Many rural women  are landless laborers and are economically very poor; most of them are illiterates/semi-literates. These women can be organized into self-help groups. The goal of this program is to promote savings- and credit activities, and to promote employment of these women into production units. This will lead to a strong and permanent improvement of their socio-economic conditions in a number of ways:
- Initiation of savings and credit activities, and promotion of income generating programs in these self-help groups will bring more economic development and independence to these women and their families. Because of the better welfare of these families, more children will be able to attend school instead of being forced into agricultural child labor.
- For the first time in their life, these disadvantaged rural women become organized into groups. The formation of these self-help groups will facilitate discussion of many issues pertaining to their socio-economic, educational and health status. Thus, the formation of this group provides a forum to initiate many participatory activities (including training and awareness camps).
- This process will also lead to increased confidence in these women, and will help them to gain decision-making status in their society. This will encourage these women to participate and contribute in general social and political matters in their respective villages, including women’s rights.
Thus, the long-term accomplishments of this program will extend far into the future.
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