We cover widowed, destitute single women who are in need of helping hand in marine fishing villages.

We covered 15 villages of 2 mandals (Poosapatirega&Ranathalam) mandals of Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts.

The project aimed to develop the single women who were socially & economically in vulnerable condition. To form a sustainable village level savings and credit groups with single women of fisher villages under micro credit programme.

In this process we supported 58 groups with 824 women members in 15 villages in year 2007. We provided support with revolving fund for trades like fish vending, cradle making, grocery shop, tiffin shop rope making business, fish storage business, ragi and some petty businesses. In year 2011 the focus is on strengthening of these groups and handed over the revolving fund to them.

In this year 2011 we started handing over process to the groups for this profess we started group meetings for the handing over to the groups. Group meetings are the initial activity for creating a unity among the village level credit groups. These group meetings will focus on the concept and advantages of the group concept& systems. All the group members can get to knowledge that getting into a group can sustain their economic development. In this year 224 group meetings were organised. 750 members are covered in these meetings. Meetings are organised at all 15 villages, they are, Madduru, Jeerupalem, Allivalasa, PeddaKovvada, Donipeta, KothaMukkam, Komaravanipeta, Thammayyapalem, Barripeta, ChikatipetaPothayyapeta, KothuruGurayyapeta and China Kovvada. In these meetings, we discussed with the leaders, how to deal the group accounts, book keeping, and bank transactions. Each group elected two group leaders for these responsibilities.

This year we started group handing over process. In this process out of 58 groups 40 groups are handed over to the community. Out of 824 members 510 members are covered in the process. All villages are covered in this process.

We conducted 12 Leadership Trainings covered all villages. In these trainings 4 leaders are participated from each group. These trainings were covered all 15 villages, covered 49 groups and from each group four members. In this training we initiated capacity building of the leader, leadership qualities, coordination between the village level groups, communication, public speaking, advocacy, book keeping, and how to deal with groups dynamics. All the leaders got oriented and all are active to ready to take leadership.

The savings concept is introduced for better owning of the groups by the members. This will help in sustain the group concept among the groups. And also give more financial strength for the groups.

All groups were well doing in savings at the banks. Some groups are saving each Rs.100/- and some are Rs.50/-. At PedaKovvada, Jeerupalem and Allivalasa villages are doing well in savings. Some members are getting more loan amounts from their groups for businesses.

All these group members are oriented on proper management of group activities. All groups whose accounts were opened in the last months are performing well. They collect the savings, regularly conducting meetings, preparing the meeting proceedings, depositing the amount in the bank.

We will monitor and do the group strengthening process. We are visiting these groups twice in a month and providing suggestions at need. Records will be maintained according to the need and norms. Every group have minute book. We trained them on book keeping, knowledge about thrift, loan ratio and clear access to income and expenditure of their group.