Sakh-se-Vikas (SSV) is a regional development initiative in the state of Rajasthan. The SSV initiative seeks to demonstrate poverty reduction through community-owned, financially viable microfinance programmes for underprivileged communities in Rajasthan. Seeded in 2003 with support from the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, the SSV initiative has been continuously evolving its strategies to achieve its two key objectives:

 

I) Impacting practice at community level:
	Reaching out to poor through provision of comprehensive mF services
	Reduction of vulnerability/ deepening through asset building and risk mitigation products
	Income generation through arresting leakages such as in health and interest burden
	Stabilizing existing livelihoods and developing other collective livelihood interventions, including business development services
	Investing in community owned institutions to build leadership and bridge linkages with mainstream
II) Sector building:
	To develop resource agencies for the microfinance sector
	Invest in other significant players such as government and banks
	Building human resource and institutional capacities in the self-help sector
	Creating conducive policy environment that fosters growth of self-help based microfinance

Key Achievements and Impact
	14 federations progressing towards covering full operational costs
	Livelihoods enhancement: Around 3,500 member households accessing livelihood support services for dairy and goat-rearing in 3 districts. The price realized by members for milk has increased by 30 per cent.
	Reduction in high-interest loans from money-lenders: There is 59 per cent reduction in loans being taken from money-lenders. Loans from SHGs comprise 60 per cent of total loans accessed by member households. An important impact is the savings on usurious interest rates charged by money-lenders.
	Social impact on women is reflected in an increased involvement in decision making in the family. A positive response was received from 45 per cent of the SHG members against 10 per cent of sample of non-SHG members. Increased utilisation of health services by members is also reported.
Road Ahead
	Strengthening of existing and new federation to enable them to develop as mature and independent entities
	Maintaining quality & deepening microfinance & livelihoods programme
	SSV initiative plans to expand its outreach to 125,000 households in the next 3-5 years

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