MUKTI COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND

01. Why the Project is ?

• MCDF is an autonomous microcredit-based community program
• Aimed at creating women entrepreneurs in villages
• Addresses self-help income generation by rural women
• Expanding to promote social and environmental awareness and address women’s rights issues
• Utilizes the Self-Help Group (SHG) structure for implementation
• Multiple service layers include micro-banking, skills training, counseling, information dissemination, domestic violence prevention, family health, women’s rights, and empowerment

02. What the project is?

• Self-Help Group (SHG) formation requires a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 15 like-minded women with similar financial status from the same locality
• Election of President, Secretary, and Treasurer for SHG governance
• Mukti and MCDF workers provide assistance in understanding methodology and development logistics
• Project aims to harness the capabilities of rural population
• Provision of knowledge, skill sets, tools, and finance to empower rural communities
• Enable decent livelihood through self-employment
• Increase chances of securing employment in different sectors

03. How the Project is?

• The project involves the formation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) consisting of 10 to 15 women with similar financial status.
• From all SHGs in one or more neighboring localities, one member (preferably the President) from each SHG will form the Forum Branch (FB).
• Each FB may comprise a maximum of 200 SHGs. Annual general meetings will be held in each Branch to elect or select their Forum’s executive committee.
• The committee will consist of 7 to 11 members who will be elected or selected for a one-year term.
• The committee members will then elect their President, Treasurer, and Secretary.

04. Where the project is?

Sundarbans and adjoining areas Mathurapur-I, Mathurapur-II, Kultali, PatharPratima, Canning, Basanti, Namkhana, Kakdwip, Sagar Blocks in South 24 Parganas District and Egra-1, Datan-I, Datan-II, Keshiary, Narayangarh, Nayagram Blocks in East and West Midnipur and in Jhargram Districts

05. What the impact is?

• The MCDF project was initiated in 2014 as a pilot initiative, starting with one Forum Branch at Village Purbasridharpur under the Raidighi block of South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal.
• Due to its success, the program was replicated in six other areas, covering 369 SHGs and involving 3,610 women in total.
• The program has been expanding since 2016, with a portion of group savings reinvested as loans for members to initiate Income Generating Activities (IGAs).
• Currently, MCDF involves 30,000 women, has created 2,850 SHG groups, and has established 30+ branches across West Bengal.

Impact Stories

An Inspirational Story of an Unfortunate Mother who Became Micro Entrepreneur out of Homemaker

From an impoverished homemaker to a successful micro-entrepreneur, the story of Nandini Maity, of Kuyemuri village, is an inspiring tale…

MCDF loan helped Arpita to become self-sufficient

ARPITA PUROKAIT Village and Post Office: Paschim Jata Khashari Para Thana: Raidighi District: 24 South Parganas Arpita is associated with…

Story of a Successful Entrepreneur Mita Mondal

MITA MONDAL Village and Post Office: Nagendrapur Thana: Raidighi District: 24 South Parganas Mita is associated with MUKTI since February…

Saraswati’s hard work and dedication made her successful entrepreneur

SARASWATI CHATTERJEE Village and Post Office: Nagendrapur Thana: Raidighi District: 24 South Parganas Saraswati is associated with MUKTI since December…

Self-sufficient entrepreneur Kakoli helping her parents

KAKOLI DAS Village and Post Office: Nagendrapur Thana: Raidighi District: 24 South Parganas Kakoli is associated with Mukti since February…

A woman entrepreneur Dipali Bhandari’s story

DIPALI BHANDARI Village and Post Office: Dumkol Thana: Raidighi District: 24 South Parganas Dipali is associated with MCDF since March…

MCDF helped Shonamoni to explore multiple sources of income

Shonamoni Bhattacharya Village and Post Office: Dumkol Thana: Raidighi District: South 24 Paraganas Shonamoni Bhattacharya is associated with MCDF Mukti…