Microfinance

As in most rural areas, the local community here too is largely beyond the scope of any institutional finance, which is a constraint to any enterprise and livelihood development work.

AT India has, as part of its microfinance activities, set up approximately 418 self-help groups in the region with about two thousand women members. This initiative is aimed largely at providing access to savings, credit and in due course, other financial services that local communities do not have access to.

The SHGs formed currently have combined savings of over Rs 1644426/-. Garhwali women have shown they are effective regular contributors to savings accounts and maintain high loan repayment rates. AT India trains SHG leaders and links Income Generating Projects (tasar, honey, rajma, dairy, ringal) through business loans for new activities and savings for existing ones.

The temperate oak tasar silk project | The honey and beekeeping project | Self Help Groups and microfinance

Conservation and plantation | Dairy development – business development services | Ringal and Lichens

Village based Ecotourism | Interpretation Centers