Bihar Educational development society

This 3-year project provides training in tailoring, embroidery, handicrafts, food preservation methods and marketing to rural women. This training is being supplemented by providing interest-free microcredit loans to these women through self-help groups (SHGs), with each SHG consisting of 5 to 10 women. This has enabled about 150 women to start earning a living during the first two years, with the number increasing from year to year due to recycling of the loaned funds. Three centers have been set up to help the women produce and market their products. The products have also been sold in various exhibition fairs organized in Delhi, Patna, Gaya, and other places. Necessary guidance is also being provided to the women to improve and maintain product quality.