Approach

Our delivery model is member based and saving driven.. Saving is mandatory for every member. To ensure regular savings, our field officers make regular follow-ups with all the members. Members become eligible for availing loan after a minimum saving of INR 200 for three months. On availing loan, a member purchases shares of the Cooperative and becomes its shareholder.
The cycle from membership to loan:

Legal Status of the Cooperative:
The cooperative is registered under Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act 1961 with District Registrar of Cooperative Societies Ahmadabad. In the year 2014, we have received the permission to work in whole Ahmadabad District.

Members’ Profile

Occupational Profile:
Majority of Saath members are daily wage earners, working as auto rickshaw drivers, hawkers, kite makers, tailors, dye workers (in factories and small establishments), and construction workers. Others work as service providers such as plumbers, mechanics, electrical technicians, sorting, grading and packaging of cereals and pulses for C & F agent’s etc.Then there are small traders such as fruits and vegetables vendors, and micro-entrepreneurs
Demographic Profile:
The total number of households in the two clusters where SAKHI and EKTA operate is more than 10,000, comprising of Hindus and Muslims. SAKHI cooperative works only with female members where as EKTA works with both male and female groups. Most of these are people migrated from villages of Gujarat, (40.2%), Rajasthan (18.1%), and surrounding villages of Ahmadabad (15%). There are also migrants from UP, Bihar etc. Saragra Marwadis, among Hindus, was found to be the largest community (26.9%) while rest are Vankar (21.2%), Chamar, Darbar, UP bhaiyas etc.
Saving Habits:
According to research conducted regarding the saving habits of slum residents, 57% of the respondents were in the habit of saving in some form or another whereas 43% of those surveyed did not save at all. Around 27% of the respondents deposit money in safe and legal institutions such as banks, and related government initiatives, where as 12% kept their savings money at home, and a further 12%of the respondents put their money in Vishi and Chit fund. Statistics showed that highest percentage of savers lived in Behrampura, with 76.1%. 50% lived in Saraspura, and 43.2% in Santoshnagar. It was interesting to note that, compared to other areas; residents of Saraspur mostly deposited their money in Vishi .