As per the feasibility report of CmF (by Prof V S Vyas), the district initiative is conceptualised as a learning lab as well as demonstration unit of CmF. A spearhead team of CmF is working in Dungarpur district since 2007. CmF has active engagement with Bank of Baroda, district administration and local SHG promoting institutions like Department of Women and Child Development (DWCD), Peoples Education and Development Organisation (PEDO) - an NGO and other SHPIs to promote Community Based microFinance in Dungarpur.


Specific Role of CmF in Dungarpur:
 

	Facilitating SHGs to access credit from formal banking channels- strengthening SHG-Bank Linkage. CmF team supports banks to evolve suitable mechanism to increase the outreach of their branches in promotion and linking SHGs.
	Coordination with district administration for solving operational problems faced by mF agencies from time to time.
	Support innovations and pilots in district to increase the outreach of SHGs, delivery of multiple services through SHGs.
	Feasibility studies for identification of economic activities that are technical and financially viable in the District. Designing right type of training to SHG members: EDP, skill and exposure, etc. Projects/ Initiatives in Dungarpur

Facilitating Dungarpur Project of Bank of Baroda

Bank of Baroda, the lead bank in Rajasthan has taken up a special project called ‘Dungarpur Project’ to pilot the bank’s involvement in integrated development of poor area in collaboration with PEDO and Centre for microFinance. The pilot is mainly to demonstrate that banking can be done on larger scale with poor people through SHGs. Also banks, state government and voluntary agency can collaborate and have synergetic effect on development of poor.


SHG Helpline

CmF along with District Administration has started SHG helpline for solving the issues pertaining to SHGs and bank related problems. It was a pilot project launched in Dungarpur. The initiative proved very successful and a no. of villagers tried to resolve their problems through the SHG helpline. CmF plans to expand the project on a bigger scale now after receiving favourable response from the community.


Pilot project on strengthening SHGs promoted by DWCD

Quality of existing SHGs has been a major area of concern in the sector. In collaboration with the largest agency promoting SHGs in Rajasthan i.e. DWCD, CmF took up a pilot project for strengthening SHGs in 2 blocks. SRTT is providing financial support and the two partner organizations- IBTADA in Alwar and PEDO in Dungarpur- are implementing the project in one block each. The objectives of the project are:
 

	To strengthen existing SHGs for self-sufficiency
	To demonstrate the qualitative process of group formation and nurturing
	To develop suitable models of sustainable livelihood enhancement and income generation
	To form SHG Federations for continued support to SHGs