About

We care about improvement of the society

SRI (Society for Rural Improvement) is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization established to provide socio-economic support to the poor, especially poor rural women in India.  It is founded by Dr. Prabhakar, Indian born U. S. citizen, a friend of Dr. Shashi Tharoor (former U.N. Under Secretary General) and a Colleague of Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Noble Laureate.  After more than two decades of academic service as a Professor in U.S.A, Dr. Prabhakar returned to the rural areas in Palakkad, Kerala and embarked upon alleviation of Poverty among the poorest rural women.

SRI replicates with necessary modifications, the Grameen Banking System of Bangladesh founded by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Laureate.  Collateral free micro-credit is provided exclusively to poor rural women for economically viable and environmentally sustainable Income Generating Activities. 

The objectives are poverty alleviation, economic independence and social emancipation of the poor rural women.

It is not due to lack of resources, poverty has not been alleviated.  But in many Systems around the world, the poor do not have access to the resources.  By creating a congenial, and conducive environment where the poor can have access to the resources, many of the socio-economic problems can be solved.  From this perspective, SRI believe in teaching how to catch fish, instead of handing over a fish.

Salient Features

SRI emphasizes on Micro-credit instead of Macro-credit.  The following salient features of Grameen Banking System with necessary modifications, are incorporated in this Project:

  • Collateral free Micro-credit is advanced exclusively to the poor and needy rural women. Micro-credit is taken to their door steps
  • Beneficiaries are considered regardless of caste, color, creed, religion or political affiliation.
  • Micro-credit provided must be utilized for an economically viable and environmentally sustainable income generating activity.
  • Freedom and flexibility is given to select the income generating activity depending upon individual choice and the local socio economic, labour, marketing conditions etc.
  • Micro-credit is repaid within a year in weekly installments, with a repayment record of 100%.
  • Women form Groups of like-minded people who act as mutual collateral.
  • Teach the beneficiaries group binding, group dynamism, problem solving skills, individual and collective responsibility, accountability, leadership and skill up-grading.
  • Inculcate the habit of thrift and savings.
  • Motivate them about the significance of building social assets along with economic assets in the Empowerment process.
  • Sensitize the importance of hygiene, sanitation, good health, drinking water, balanced diet, etc., and awareness against social evils such as dowry, child labor, alcoholic addiction, abuse of women etc.
  • Simplicity, efficiency and transparency in all transactions and operation.

Project Operation

SRI project,  after two and a half decades is having a repayment record of almost 100%.  Poverty being a comparative statement, there are no uniform yard sticks or artificial standards to distinguish the poor from the not so poor. However, taking local socio-economic conditions and other variable into consideration, the following general criteria is used as a guideline to screen and select the beneficiaries

  • Location & accessability
  • Availability of basic infrastructure, such as roads, water, electricity etc.
  • Availability of public services, such as transportation, schools, hospitals etc.
  • Annual income
  • Property value
  • Source of subsistence
  • Condition of home and home-stead.
  • Condition of health / Serious illness.
  • Number of adults and minor children
  • Whether men folk are abusive or alcoholic
  • Other rational and prudent judgments depending upon the particular situation.

Group

Women form group of like-minded people.  An intensive one week training on Grameen concepts, objectives and functions is given to the beneficiaries before disbursement of the loan.

Loans are repaid within a year in regular weekly installments during weekly center meetings at a time and a place selected by the beneficiaries.  The Group Leaders and Centre Leader conduct the meeting with the loan Co-ordinator from SRI acting as a facilitator.  New loan proposals, recycling loans, request for withdrawal of savings etc. are submitted, discussed and resolved during the meetings.  This is also a platform to discuss other important socio-economic issues

A significant aspect in the repayment schedule is the voluntary savings system along with the group fund savings proportionate to the loan, to inculcate a habit of thrift and saving among the beneficiaries.