Preamble

The Sankalp Microfinance project was first conceived for the benefit of the indigent workforce for the handmade paper-making unit at Santiniketan.

The majority of the rural workforce is employed in informal, independent activities or micro-enterprises using the most basic forms of technologies. However, a variety of bottlenecks prevent the productive potential of this informal sector from developing to even a small fraction of its full potential. The main obstacles are the lack of reliable savings opportunities for poor households and of credit facilities for micro-entrepreneurs, women and small farmers. The bulk of the poor are not served by formal institutions which are generally limited to urban customers and larger enterprises. Success stories in Bangladesh and the recent increase in the numbers of flexible, innovative financial institutions and financial NGOs proves that the poor, rural people are bankable and that doing business with this target group can be operated in a cost-covering and sustainable manner.

Microfinance and the development of decentralized financial systems are therefore extremely significant mechanisms to empower rural communities.

Livelihoods creation

To improve the economic and social conditions of the poor and disadvantaged sections of the target community, appropriate sources of income-generating options will be identified through participatory method and feasibility studies based on the existing skills and human resources available in the area.

Under Construction

Sustainable Human Development Model

The following model has been obtained from a UNDP publication: