The overall goal of the project is to support Government of Tamil Nadu’s strategy of reducing rural poverty with special focus on the poorest of the poor through support for productive activities and investments, using the Community-driven Development (CDD) approach.

The specific project objectives are to improve the livelihoods and empower the target rural poor in Tamil Nadu (particularly women and other disadvantaged groups) through:

• Developing and strengthening pro-poor local institutions/groups (including village panchayats);

• Building skills and capacities of the poor; and

• Financing productive demand-driven subproject investments.

• Community driven development approach to poverty alleviation

• Shift in focus from group formation to livelihoods

• Sustained technical support to SHGs (skill development, marketing, technology)

• Higher investment per family – Rs.28,000 (Rs.14000/- from project, Equal Bank linkage)

• Focuses primarily on poor women and disadvantaged sections like disabled, widows, destitute etc.,

• Promote higher level economic activities and federations for sustainability.

VKSS - Vazhndhu Kaatuvom State Society  VPRC - Village Poverty Reduction Committee  VKDS - Vazhndhu Kaatuvom District Society  SHG - Self Help Group  PFT - Project Facilitation Team  EAG - Economic Activity Group