GRAM-UTTHAN is an MFI, working primarily in Kendrapara and Seven other adjoining districts in the state of Orissa. It has been one of the leading developmental organizations not only in the district but also in the state. Initially it started developmental intervention in Pimpuri village of Kendrapara district, today it has become one of the major developmental agencies recognized and appraised by local, regional, national and even international development partners.
It was in the year 1990 that a team of social workers having previous experience in development sector came together and formed a society namely ‘GRAM-UTTHAN’ for the development of rural villages. ‘GRAM-UTTHAN’ literally means ‘Raising of Village’, that is exactly the sole motto of the organization, as Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our nation wished to see India after the independence. Since then, GU has been striving to liberate the rural poor from chronic poverty through its various developmental interventions and activities.
GRAM-UTTHAN initially struggled for small grants and worked for rural poor of the locality through various activities concentrated on their Health & Sanitation, Education and livelihood related issues. In this phase, GU experimented with various developmental activities, which helped GU and its staff in learning the dynamics and various issues of rural development. Through its interventions GU developed good rapport among the masses. Within the initial five years GU realized that the sustainable development can come only through economic empowerment of the people. Thereafter as a strategic step, GU started mobilizing women into groups (better known as SHGs) for creating different development avenues. Many women SHGs were formed in this period and, they were convinced that financial avenues created by these groups can help them in developing their economic base through some income generating activities. These SHGs developed their habit of Savings and also started internal credit circulation.
It was a learning point for GRAM-UTTHAN how a poor woman can make use of such small credit in a perspective way. Realizing the zeal of the women for taking up economic activities and their ability to utilize and repay loan funds, GU tried to provide loan assistance to its SHGs. By 1996 GU was able to mobilize loan fund for this cause from institutions such as Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK), National Minorities Development Finance Corporation (NMDFC) etc. and started giving small loans to the SHGs for supporting economic activities. Such transaction not only helped the groups for better utilization of finance, but also the message was spread to other women who voluntarily made groups and approached GRAM-UTHAN to follow its principles and rules and avail support service from it.
Today, on the basis of the same principles and practices, GRAM-UTTHAN has become one of the leading MFIs in the state of Orissa, reaching out to more than 80000 households. At present, GRAM-UTTHAN is not only providing financial support to the rural families, but is also helping form new enterprises in its area through larger loans and technical inputs for starting micro enterprises.
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