"Small Loans. Big Dreams. Lasting Dignity."

 In 1984–85, during legal literacy camps conducted by SUTRA, a powerful realization emerged among village women: under prevailing norms, they had no legal claim to the property of their husbands or in-laws unless they were widowed. This sparked a collective desire among women to create assets of their own and gain a measure of financial independence.

In response, SUTRA initiated a microcredit programme focused on enabling women to purchase milch cattle—a step toward building income-generating assets. A revolving fund of ₹60,000 was established, and as loans were repaid, the fund was recycled to support additional women from other groups. While modest in scale, this early initiative laid the groundwork for a transformative journey.

By 1997–98, SUTRA undertook a documentation exercise to capture the experiences of women who had spent over a decade resisting domestic violence and working toward self-empowerment. The women shared a powerful observation: domestic violence had significantly declined, and life had become safer and more stable. However, they also recognized that long-term change required economic empowerment.

Motivated by this insight, many Mahila Mandals chose to transition into Self-Help Groups (SHGs), with a collective goal of building financial resilience. This shift was further strengthened when the Rashtriya Mahila Kosh extended a credit line of ₹10 lakhs to support their efforts.

What began as a modest credit initiative has grown into a vital component of women’s empowerment in SUTRA’s work—enabling women to break financial dependency, build confidence, and shape their own futures.

Economic independence is foundational to the sustainable empowerment of women. SUTRA seeks to foster this through its thoughtfully designed microcredit programme—ensuring that financial support is both accessible and empowering.

In many rural settings, access to credit at reasonable interest rates remains out of reach for women. SUTRA addresses this by promoting group-based lending, where loans are distributed within Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Decisions regarding who receives a loan are made collectively, based on shared understanding and democratic consensus about need and urgency. This process not only ensures fairness but also strengthens solidarity within the group.

In addition to internal lending, SUTRA facilitates external credit assistance to support women in making larger investments—typically for the purchase of cattle, or to set up small-scale enterprises such as grocery shops or tailoring units. These ventures help women generate a steady income, which in turn boosts their self-confidence, improves their status within the household, and contributes to the economic wellbeing of the entire family.

SUTRA’s approach to economic empowerment is rooted in the belief that access to resources is a vital aspect of personal growth and collective strength. When women are able to support themselves and one another, it not only reduces their dependency on others but also cultivates a deeper sense of dignity and purpose. The microcredit programme is not merely a financial tool—it is a pathway to self-reliance and agency for women at the grassroots.

Today, SUTRA’s microcredit model empowers women not only through internal group lending, but also through external credit assistance—enabling larger investments in livelihoods such as cattle-rearing, grocery shops, tailoring units, or other income-generating activities.

Loans are distributed based on collective decision-making within SHGs, ensuring transparency, need-based support, and community trust. This democratic process enhances the group’s sense of ownership, builds solidarity, and strengthens local leadership.

At its core, the programme reflects SUTRA’s belief that economic empowerment is essential for holistic self-development. When women earn, contribute, and support each other, they gain not just financial independence, but also dignity, confidence, and agency within their families and communities.