Empowering women, nurturing livelihoods, and sustaining the land – India Nirman Sangh’s journey of transformation in the Palani Hills.
High up in the Palani Hills, where mist curls around pine trees and village life hums steadily, something powerful has been taking root – the quiet transformation of the lives of over 6000 women across 450 Self Help Groups (SHGs) through India Nirman Sangh. India Nirman Sangh (INS) has nurtured a movement of hope, dignity, and transformation since 2004.
The women of these hills are at the heart of our work – and we at INS bring them together in Self Help Groups (SHGs); over 450 so far, with nearly 6,000 members – to save, support one another, and access microloans that help them reclaim control over their lives. Whether it’s for a child’s education, a medical emergency, or starting a small business, these loans, totaling over ₹30 crores have changed the definition of what’s possible.
But we know that money alone isn’t enough. So we build skills too, offering training in tailoring, carpentry, and even traditional lace-making. Women now stitch school uniforms, sew eco-friendly bags, and craft beautiful wooden pieces, sold with pride. Our tailoring and carpentry skill centres are spaces where confidence is stitched together and self-worth is carved out, piece by piece.
We also care for the land that sustains us. Our model organic farm, started in 2014, shows farmers how to grow food without chemicals, and with support from NABARD, we’ve brought better farming techniques to 20 villages in the Kodaikanal hills. Together, we’re building a community of growers who believe that farming can be both sustainable and profitable. We’ve even helped build over 600 home toilets, giving women the privacy and dignity they deserve.
And what about dignity beyond economics? Well, we believe true development must rest on strong values, so we launched the Gandhi Centre for Values in 2016: a peaceful space housed on the organic farm, this is where people come together to learn, reflect, and reconnect with the Gandhian values of truth, tolerance, simplicity, compassion, simplicity, and self-restraint.