Our partners in India
Opportunity International Australia's partners in India - figures current at December 2009
Cashpor
Cashpor has been operating since 1997, serving poor women in rural areas surrounding Varanasi. It is one of the largest microfinance institutions in northern India, currently serving close to 362,900 loan clients.
EMFIL
EMFIL is the microfinance branch of ESAF, a social development society that has been operating out of Kerala since 1992. It currently serves close to 184,900 clients.
Sharada
Sharada is an experienced urban-based microfinance institution serving more than 142,348 clients throughout five states of India – Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
Saadhana
From its humble beginnings in a small apartment, Saadhana is now the leading microfinance institution in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh. Saadhana was established in 2001 with a clear mission to catalyse the endeavours of the poor for a brighter future. It now serves more than 88,100 people. (Figure current at October 2009)
RGVN-CSP
RGVN operates in north-eastern India, in the remote and underserved state of Assam. In 1995, RGVN commenced its credit and savings program, which now serves close to 88,100 clients.
GO Finance
Established in 1996, GO Finance is a long-term partner of Opportunity International Australia. It operates in Chennai, which is home to 1.5 million slum dwellers. It currently serves close to 67,200 clients.
People's Forum
People’s Forum is a microfinance institution based in Orissa, one of India’s most impoverished states. In addition to its microfinance operations, People’s Forum undertakes several development programs including the rehabilitation of mentally ill women. It currently serves close to 50,000 people. (Figure current at February 2010)
Shalom
Founded in 1998, Shalom currently has a greater presence in rural areas, where it serves more than 32,100 clients in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Samhita
Samhita is a start-up microfinance institution based in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, where hunger and poverty are rife. Launched in late 2007, it currently serves close to 26,400 clients – demonstrating a phenomenal rate of growth.
Arth
Arth was established in May 2007 as the microfinance branch of the Indian Institute of Rural Development (IIRD), which has conducted social development projects since 1994. In little over two years, it has reached more than 11,300 borrowers.
Shikhar
Shikhar is based in the National Capital Region of Delhi. Established in 2007, it currently serves more than 9,300 clients.
Sambandh
Sambandh is the microfinance initiative of the Regional Rural Development Centre (RRDC), launched in 2006. Sambandh serves more than 4,100 clients in the urban areas of Sundargarh.
Margdarshak
Margdarshak is based in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Established in 2004 as a consultancy to the development sector, Margdarshak commenced microfinance operations in July 2007, and currently serves close to 8,300 clients.
C-DOT
C-Dot was established in 2000 and operates throughout the rural Nalanda district of Bihar. It serves more than 6,100 clients.
Adhikar
Adhikar is based in Orissa, one of India's most impoverished states. It delivers a broad range of services to its 57,600 clients.
Kaveri
Kaveri is a start-up microfinance institution which will build on the experience of SEARCH – a reputed Bangalore-based training and development institution – to deliver focused livelihood microfinance in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. It currently has 1,600 clients.