The Seed Money Support Fund covers emergencies when no other recourse can be found. It may be used for the education of children, religious festivals, marriage ceremonies, medicine, for meeting basic needs during periods of unemployment, etc. on condition that it is paid back whenever the borrowers can raise income from other sources.
This seed money is maintained by a Committee of beneficiaries, (working on similar lines to a local Credit Union in the UK) along with an appointed Coordinator from the FORD Trust and set up as a Revolving Fund System. It takes the form of an interest free repayable loan of Rs. 100 to Rs. 1000 per beneficiary. We are supporting up to 20 families through this initiative. Ultimately we are providing an alternative option to vulnerable members of society seeking financial assistance in times of dire need. Rather than obtaining a loan from local loan sharks villagers now have a viable alternative and again links with our aims of 'helping to break the cycle of dependency'.
"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime"
Chinese Proverb