Project Pehchaan is an initiative designed to empower women by expanding their access to credit and financial resources. Originally launched to strengthen the economic security of home-based workers and enhance their bargaining power, the initiative has since grown to support a broader group of women in the community.

To address persistent barriers to financial inclusion, Project Pehchaan is building a platform that brings together women in Talabkatta, Hyderabad, through the formation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs). SHGs are small collectives where women pool their savings to create a shared fund, enabling them to access credit for both personal needs and livelihood activities. Beyond providing financial support, SHGs also serve as important spaces for leadership development, peer learning, and community-building.

For many participants, joining an SHG offers a rare opportunity to step outside their homes, connect with peers, and build confidence in managing finances, taking initiative, and making informed decisions. Through these groups, women are strengthening their economic resilience while amplifying their collective voice within the community.

Under this initiative, we are implementing the following interventions:

• SHG Formation and Management: This is the core activity of the project, aimed at bringing as many women as possible into the SHG platform as a foundational step toward empowerment. Each group meets twice a month, and the Kriti team facilitates meetings, maintains accurate financial records, and updates data on the project’s software system, ensuring transparency, accountability, and the effective functioning of the groups.
• Access to Savings and Credit: The project enables women to build regular savings and access affordable credit through the SHG model.
• Skills Training for Women: The project provides training in areas such as hand embroidery, crochet, mehendi, and thread bangle-making, empowering women with practical skills to enhance their income opportunities and economic independence.
• Capacity Building Training: The project provides women and SHGs with training on group management, leadership, gender roles, health, nutrition, domestic violence prevention, and entrepreneurship to build practical skills and agency. In partnership with My Choices, Hamsafal, Hakdarshak, Axis Bank Foundation, SAFA, Game, and Access Foundation, women also gain exposure to corporate offices, financial literacy, and professional environments.
• Artisan Registration: The project supports men and women engaged in craft-based activities to obtain Artisan Cards issued by the Development Commissioner for Handicrafts. These cards provide access to government market linkage programs and eligibility for government-sponsored skill development workshops, helping artisans expand opportunities and strengthen their livelihoods.
• Market Interventions: Kriti provides design support and marketing for lac bangles through its platform Lac bangles | Kritikala - Kriti Sustainable Livelihoods, facilitating bulk orders for gifting and opportunities for artisans to showcase their work at corporate stalls. The team also coordinates bulk orders for home-based tailors in collaboration with the tailoring supervisor, helping expand market access and increase income for women artisans.

Status of self help groups (December 2025):

• Number of SHGs formed: 85
• Total number of women in SHGs: 900
• Areas covered: Talabkatta, Yakutpura, Vattepally
• Cumulative Savings: RS. 4,721,289
• Interlending within members: Rs 44L loan outstanding
• Livelihood loans with the bank:Rs 13L loan outstanding

Process of self help group formation:

Mobilization: Women are mobilized for SHG formation through door-to-door visits, followed by two introductory meetings. During these sessions, they are informed about the importance of saving and the benefits of accessing collateral-free loans to support personal and livelihood needs.

Home Visits and Screening: After the initial meetings, community mobilizers visit women’s homes to discuss their interest in joining the SHG, address any questions, and conduct a thorough screening of potential members to ensure group readiness and commitment.

Group Formation: After the initial awareness meetings, women participate in group formation sessions where the SHG is formally established, by-laws are documented, and the group’s name and leadership are decided.

Ongoing SHG Activities: Once formed, SHG members meet twice a month to collect savings, disburse loans, and record all group activities, ensuring transparency, financial discipline, and smooth functioning of the group.

The group members get access to credit in two ways:

• Internal Lending Loans: Savings collected from SHG members are made available as short-term loans to members in need. This activity begins within three months of group formation, and as the savings corpus grows over two to three years, it becomes a reliable source of emergency funding for members.
• Livelihood and Bank Linkage Loans: After 6–8 months, based on consistent savings and disciplined meetings, SHGs become eligible for larger loans from a revolving fund established by Kriti. Over time, groups are connected to the government-supported SHG bank linkage model, enabling access to formal financial services and larger credit opportunities.

As part of the project, we continuously explore new ways to engage with women and assess measures of women’s empowerment. Training and capacity-building are central activities, with regular sessions conducted for both group leaders and members to strengthen skills, knowledge, and leadership within the SHGs.