Action Village India’s activities centre on securing the rights and strengthening the livelihoods of India’s rural poor. They have been working with local partners since 1989 on projects supporting education, health, land rights, agricultural innovation and women’s rights.
The project the Trust is supporting is working in ten indigenous-majority villages in the Mhow block of Indore District in Madhya Pradesh to build a women-led rural economy. The project provides practical skill-based training, supports financial inclusion, and strengthens climate resilience.
Women and girls are receiving training in computer literacy, beauty services, terracotta production, snack making and fashion design. The project also supports them to develop business plans, understand local market dynamics and establish reliable market linkages. Self-Help Groups have been formed and connected to the National Rural Livelihood Mission, enabling women to access credit and launch micro-enterprises.
We are funding the second year of an existing project with our funding being released late in the cycle. Our funding has already had an impact on over 2,000 indigenous women and girls in several districts and includes the setting up of two newly formed self-help groups for at least 20 women and the connection of 150 people to government schemes and available benefits. The project has so far provided a two month beauty parlour training course for 20 girls. Ten women from the first part of the first year course on food production have had further support to their business with new products developed. 82 farmers have been persuaded to adopt organic practices. A trainer has been identified for the computer skills course which has yet to start. In addition 350 saplings have been planted, 195 people were trained on climate change and the beneficiaries are participating in local council meetings helping to bring about resolutions to problems in several villages..