Over 800 women in Visakhapatnam district have moved from subsistence to savings through BCT's Self-Help Group and Livelihood Finance programme.
From Self-Help to Self-Reliance: How Women's SHGs Are Changing Rural Economies
The Self-Help Group and Livelihood Finance Centre (SLFC) at BCT India has quietly revolutionized the economic landscape of dozens of villages in Visakhapatnam district. What started as small savings circles of 10-15 women has grown into a network of 68 SHGs with over 800 members, collectively managing a corpus of ₹1.2 crore.
The Power of Collective Savings
Each SHG meets weekly. Members contribute ₹100-200 per week to a common pool. After six months of regular savings, the group becomes eligible for internal lending at low interest rates. This simple mechanism has freed hundreds of women from exploitative moneylenders who charged 36-60% annual interest.
The SLFC provides financial literacy training, bookkeeping support, and bank linkage assistance. Over 40 SHGs have now been linked to nationalized banks for additional credit, allowing members to invest in income-generating activities.
Enterprise Development
Beyond savings and credit, we focus on enterprise development. Our livelihood team identifies market opportunities and provides hands-on training. Popular enterprises include leaf plate making, mushroom cultivation, tailoring, and spice processing. Each week, our extension workers visit SHGs to provide technical support and troubleshoot challenges.
One standout success is the Paderu Tribal Women's Spice Cooperative, which now supplies turmeric and pepper to organic retailers in Visakhapatnam city. Started by just 12 women from a single SHG, the cooperative now includes 45 members from four SHGs and generates a monthly turnover of ₹3.5 lakh.
Measuring Impact
An independent evaluation conducted in 2025 found that SHG members' household income had increased by an average of 42% since joining the programme. School enrollment among members' children rose by 28%. Perhaps most significantly, 89% of members reported an improvement in decision-making power within their households — a powerful indicator of women's empowerment beyond economic metrics.