Relentless poverty and lack of viable economic options are inescapable realities of rural community life. Self- help groups in these communities have proved an effective platform for spreading information, creating savings and loan mechanisms, advocating for the rights of all individuals, and ensuring the more responsive delivery of government services such as public food distribution and minimum wage entitlements. In addition, training in a range of potential income-generating activities, financed by community lending, has provided these marginalized community members with their first ever path to steady and sustainable independent earnings.

In helping to build the communities’ savings and credit capacity through which individuals can borrow money to generate independent incomes, IDF interventions have enabled marginalized villagers to move from perpetual economic helplessness toward basic economic security, dignity, and self-respect.