ICPRD

The monitoring systems established to assess the ongoing activities of the entire network were

A reliable and valid system of monitoring is being put in place at the implementation level in order to record and assess the performance of the project. Simple computerized systems for maintaining the records are being formulated and developed to ensure and further enhance the accountability of various project networks - NGOs, SHGs as well as the Project Staff.

The ICPRD project has systematized the efforts of the NGOs for micro-finance capacity building programmes by supporting these small organizations in terms of experience of implementing projects through a close networking in Jharkhand and Orissa through Training of Trainers Workshops.
Acquiring skills that have helped to inculcate in members the proficiency to handle their SHG groups as independent units and decrease their dependency on the facilitating NGOs for their operations through TOTs and SHG members’ trainings.

Women have started taking up various economic activities and through this, the processes of economic planning have been introduced amongst the SHG members through skill development workshops and field and exposure visits. Though a bit hesitant earlier, tribal women have now started to explore more alternate forms of processing and value addition, which can fetch them more profit. This has also lessened stress on agricultural families.
It has provided a common platform so as to bring in the best practices to impart technical inputs facilitated through exposure and field visits so as to strengthen the efforts of integrating micro finance into the economic cycle of the rural poor.
The trainings importantly enforced self-esteem among the women collectives - SHGs. They understood that economic units could be very well managed and developed by women themselves despite gender-biased ownership of resources, which characterizes the feudal society in Jharkhand.

Strengthened leadership; involvement of group in village based conflict resolution, regularity in meetings, attendance, saving and repayment in the groups.
SHG Members’ trainings and TOTs have strengthened the base for loaning towards establishing a micro-finance institution in the coming years.
Low dependency on moneylenders – (30%) for marriage and death ceremonies. Average size of loan intake was Rs. 100-Rs.7000/-.
Enhanced levels of enterprise, women’s group enterprise activism, lesser overheads, bargaining power, diversification of new business opportunities.

Enabling a platform for tribal entrepreneurs for practicing and expanding their current enterprises.
The repayment capability is showing an increase from 50-60% in Phase I to 100% repayment at nominal rates of interest (groups and banks) in Phase II.
Mobilized women, particularly on gender inequity, gender based violence and their empowerment and resisting these issues including their sensitization regarding malpractices in availing government subsidized schemes and their active role in assuring standard functioning of Public Distribution System (PDS), government schools, health centers, and anganwadi centers.

Conclusion

The ICPRD micro credit programme that covered around 260 SHGs and 3400 women in total, has successfully exposed tribal women in Jharkhand and Orissa collectively at the grassroots about the various avenues of development wherein they could actively participate directly and independently of NGO support in implementation and monitoring of credit programmes. They are ready to build a micro-finance Institution.

Today, these poor and tribal women in the most backward states of India i.e. Jharkhand and Orissa have become a powerful force in their villages in Santhal Parganas and Orissa by capital accumulation at the base: They are: