GRAMA VIDIYAL

  • Location:  Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Started microfinance operations:  1993
  • Unitus Partnership Start Date:  December 2004
  • Clients when partnership began:  65,732
  • Current clients served:  526,928


Website: http://www.gvmfl.com

Background: Grama Vidiyal's parent organization Activists for Social Alternatives (ASA) began in 1986 as a social services agency targeting the needs of poor rural women.  In February 2007, Grama Vidiyal received their Non Banking Financial Company Licence in February 2007 and transformed itself in January 2008.
 

ASA-GV - DeverajLeadership: Grama Vidiyal is led by Mr. S. Deveraj, founder, chairman, and managing director.

We’re excited about our Unitus partnership because it combines capital investment with a strategic, stable growth model and will help us reach out to 500,000 of India’s poorest.


Product offerings and clientele: Grama Vidiyal offers microfinance services to poor women in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Chronically drought prone, Tamil Nadu was also hit by the tsunami in December 2004. Tamil Nadu is home to 29 million residents, 14 million of whom live on less than US$2 per day. Grama Vidiyal offers loans for income generation, health care, and education, as well as life insurance. Most clients use their loans for agricultural cultivation, animal husbandry, petty trade, or small-scale production businesses.

Highlights and growth strategy: In February 2005, Grama Vidiyal reached an important milestone by cumulatively disbursing US$20 million since their inception. In addition to their positive growth trajectory, Unitus selected Grama Vidiyal for their impressive senior management team, smart local marketing decisions, and their innovative franchise model of branch expansion.

ASA-GV - GovindammalMeet an ASA-GV client: A widow at 28, Govindammal was unable to provide for her two small children. With loans of less than $100 from Grama Vidiyal, Govindammal started a weaving business, doubled her income, and is now sending her children to school.

> Read Govindammal’s full story

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