Weekly center meetings in progress

	Provide collateral free micro-credit exclusively to the poorest rural women.
	Beneficiaries are considered regardless caste, creed, colour,
	religion or political affiliations.
	Weekly repayment plan, with a repayment rate 100%.
	Loans used exclusively for income generating activities.
	Group formation and group dynamism.
	Teach women individual and collective responsibilities.
	Direct contact with beneficiaries without any intermediaries.
	Encourage mandatory savings.
	Transparency in all operations and transactions.
	Human approach with dignity to the individual.
	Open door policy and input from the beneficiaries.
	Balancing fiscal responsibility with a Social Consciousness.

A six member of office-cum field staff implement the project under the supervision and guidance of Dr. Prabhakar, Chief Executive Officer. While academic qualifications and experience are important criteria for selecting the staff, the paramount factor is the commitment and desire to help and interact with the poorest rural women.

Dr. Prabhakar has been involved in the study and research on rural poverty alleviation for the past four years. He has undergone an intense International Dialog Program for Grameen replicators in Bangladesh. He was invited as a Resource Person to present his last four years experience at the 31st International Conference on Grameen replication at Bangladesh. He also participated in the seminar on Diversification on loan portfolio at Grameen Trust, Bangladesh.

Four women managerial staffs have undergone indepth training for Branch Managers at Bangladesh, with hands on experience and exposure in the villages. The Project Manager of SRI participated in the workshop for the financial managers, focussing on the significant aspects of micro-financing.

The Government of India has accorded approval under FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) to receive foreign funds. Reserve Bank of India has also accorded permission to receive foreign loans under FERA (Foreign Exchange Regulation Act) from Grameen Trust.

The SRI project, which has completed 3 years, is having a repayment rate of almost 100%. Beneficiaries are screened and identified on the basis of flexible poverty criteria, such as location, availability of infrastructure and services, income, source of subsistence, property value, number of children, literacy, home condition, hygiene and sanitation, extent of male dominance in the family and other rational judgements depending on a particular situation.

Group orientation for the potential beneficiaries

Women form group of like-minded people. An intensive one-week training on Grameen concepts, objectives and functions is given to the beneficiaries before disbursement of the loan.
Loans are repaid within a year in regular weekly installments during weekly center meetings at a time and a place selected by the beneficiaries. The loan coordinator, acting as facilitator conducts the meetings with the help of group leader and center leader. New loan proposals, recycling loans, request for withdrawal of emergency group funds etc. are submitted, discussed and resolved during these meetings. This is also a platform to discuss other important socio-economic issues.