At India Nirman Sangh, our work begins with trust. We bring women together to form small thrift and savings collectives called Self-Help Groups (SHGs). These groups pool their savings and, with our support, access microcredit from local banks. The money is then lent within the group to members who need it; it could be to repay moneylenders charging exorbitant interest, meet medical costs, pay school fees, buy fertilizer, celebrate festivals, or arrange weddings. Because every woman is accountable to her peers, repayment rates remain remarkably high.

Today, more than 200 SHGs supported by INS are active in villages around Kodaikanal and Palani, involving nearly 3,000 women. Together, they have accessed loans worth over ₹30 crore, first through banks and NABFINS (2012–2021), and now also through INS’s own resources.

But the impact goes beyond credit. Over time, the groups have become strong voices in their communities, raising issues of sanitation, drinking water, and irregularities at ration shops, and pressing for the fair implementation of government schemes. In 2007, SHGs in three panchayats even took the lead in building over 600 home toilets under a government program, helping to eliminate open defecation.

Many groups have also ventured into small businesses such as running grocery shops, tea stalls, and ration outlets, distilling eucalyptus oil, packaging local coffee, and producing affordable sanitary napkins. With mentoring and incubation from INS, these enterprises are giving women not just income, but also dignity, recognition, and confidence.