Swayam Krishi Sangam's mission is to empower the poor to become self-reliant. We do this through a community-owned grameen (village) banking program that provides poor women loans for both income-generating activities as well as for emergencies.



SKS is an initiative to empower the poorest of the poor to become self-reliant. Since 1998, SKS has been working in India, where over 400 million people live in poverty, more than any other country in the world. These poor people cope with their vulnerability by turning to money-lenders who charge exploitative rates of interest-often as high as 72% per year - that put the poor in a debt trap. SKS breaks this cycle, by giving the poor loans for emergencies and for income generating activities.



SUPPORTING LIVELIHOODS

By providing loans to the poorest, we expect to help raise their incomes and thus also spur the village economy.



EMPOWERING WOMEN

SKS works through women's sangams ("Centers") because women are the most marginalized and because women tend to use resources more productively than men. That is, women tend to invest their income in the household and for their children.