In Rural India, Women Lead the Way to Improve Livelihoods

For Bhagabati and thousands of women in the rural districts of Odisha, India, the Odisha Rural Livelihoods Project (Tripti) came as a ray of hope. Launched in 2009, Tripti aims to improve the socio-economic status of the poor, especially women and disadvantaged groups, by building and mobilizing community institutions, creating community investment funds, and providing specific livelihood funds. The project is structured in part around self-help groups (SHG), inclusive women-run alliances, which facilitate access and distribution of funds and technical assistance to help local villagers improve their lives and start their own business. Following five successful years of implementation, SHGs are being recognized today in this region as the most effective means for socio-economic development of the rural poor. Tripti has managed to reach out to over 929,000 households, who can now look up to a brighter and more secure future.