JOINT LIABILITY GROUP (JLG) PROJECT

Ensuring Livelihood Security of Fisherwomen

Society for Assistance to Fisherwomen (SAF) implements the JLG project with an aim to wipe away the exploitation of private money lenders and financial insecurity among the fisher women engaged in fish/allied works viz,fish vending, beach work, curers, peeling, drying etc.

Objectives:

• To create strong base for institutional system and facilities for the women in fishing community to their financial inclusion by incorporating efficient management & monitoring systems with the use of technology.
• To help the fisherwomen in efficient management of the loan amount for income generation activities, thus ensuring employment and better livelihood opportunities.
• To ensure credit linkage for the fisherwomen for whom availing credit is difficult or inaccessible.

As part of the project, 1050 Joint Liability Groups are formed covering 5250 fisherwomen beneficiaries in Trivandrum, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kasaragod districts. A grant amount of Rs. 50,000/JLG (10,000/member) as interest free working capital revolving fund is given to these JLGs and based on the repayment the amount is revolving in the JLGs itself. The JLGs are linked to Kerala Bank and the working capital assistance of Rs. 50,000 per JLG as revolving fund is sanctioned through their group account. The limit of RF amount in succeeding phases are scaled up to a maximum of Rs, 20,000 per member. This scaled up amount can be sanctioned from the RF amount repaid by JLG groups. The facilitators are managing and coordinating the entire JLG activities at field level for ensuring the timely repayment of loan. A money management software is maintained to monitor the entire process of RF disbursement and repayment.