Alternate income programs other than paddy cultivation was necessary in the tribal villages as the yield from paddy was not always guaranteed in the rain fed irrigated areas and with steadily decreasing yield year after year. Our role was to train the people through the groups in creating a thrift and credit activity by which they could self finance their endeavours. Bank linkage for starting savings account are encouraged but the groups are asked to retain from taking loans from Banks till they are very sure that it can be repaid. This requires the groups to have a good understanding of capital management and profit sharing in the group/individual business. Now the older groups are under the impression that it is always wise to increase the group fund and borrow money from the group Savings account than from the Bank which would charge them interest. Periodic trainings are provided in groups on fund management, choice of IGP, cost-benefit analysis, raw material availability and marketability. The People’s groups have adopted different IGPs according to their need and feasibility of the IGP in their area. The people are now focusing more on farm related IGPs like Vermicompost production, nursery raising, animal husbandry etc which can supplement their own cultivation practices.
