Programs  

  Economic Self-Sufficiency  

Rural Women's Self Employment Programme (RWSEP)

The Rural Women's Self Employment Programme, housed at RIDE's Arpakkam Training Centre, seeks to improve the quality of life, standard of living, self-confidence and self-respect of poor rural women. With funding from the Tamil Nadu Housing and Adi-Dravidar Development Corporation (THADCO) and the Council for the Advancement of People's Action and Rural Technology (CAPART), RIDE trains rural women in a variety of vocational skills including batik work, embroidery, and toy, clothes and wire bag manufacturing. RIDE also assists the women in selling their products in local shops and Gram Sri Melas, the government-sponsored handicrafts exhibitions. In 1998-99, 45 women participated in RWSEP.

"RIDE is the only organization serving downtrodden in our society, so I was excited to be accepted into the tailoring class. Now I can make and embroider my own dresses." Miss N. Puspa, participant RWSEP

Rural Entrepreneurship Development Programme (REDP)

RIDE's Rural Entrepreneurship Development Programme addressed the need for employment opportunities in rural areas by training women and men to start and run small businesses, thus creating job providers, not job seekers. Based on the model developed by the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, a faculty of outside experts and RIDE staff teach the women how to identify viable business opportunities, measure market potential, calculate risks, set goals, market their products, and obtain credit. During the training, each REDP participant identifies a business opportunity appropriate to her goals and skills and prepares a business plan. Recent REDP graduates have pursued a wide range of income-generating ventures including fruit-selling, silk weaving, ironing services, raising dairy cattle, fertilizer distribution, and cable T.V. services. In 1998-99, 70 women and men participated in RIDE's REDP. Of these REDP graduates, 80% have created small businesses that currently are in operation.

Self-Help Groups

RIDE is a leader in the formation of Self-Help Groups in Kanchipuram District. Self-Help Groups are comprised of 10-20 women who join together to pool their savings, obtain bank loans, and otherwise strengthen community bonds. Each Self-Help Group maintains a common bank account to which each member regularly contributes. With training and counseling from RIDE, the women learn to save money and manage the joint account. This jointly saved money is then used for small loans to group members and as a collateral for larger loans from banks. RIDE maximizes repayment of these loans through ongoing support and guidance. RIDE also provides timely, low interest loans to some Self-Help Groups. In 1998-99, RIDE added 8 Self-Help Groups in Kanchipuram District, bringing the total number of RIDE-sponsored Self-Help Groups to 25 and the total number of participating women to more than 500.

"We are from poor families, but now we can become self-employed and earn some money for our families." Mrs. G. Soroja and Mrs. V. Padma, K. S. P. Nagar Self-Help Group leaders