#ProtectTheRuralCommunity

Extend support to protect the livelihoods of affected communities in the rural areas of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan in India. Relieve rural women micro-entrepreneurs from the burden of interest accrued due to loss of business during the nationwide lockdown.

With the ongoing nationwide lockdown, income and livelihoods of rural women entrepreneurs is awfully affected. Despite constant efforts to sustain their families and households, since the beginning of the lockdown, the strength of these Women is now shattering.

With a direct hit on livelihood businesses, the socio-economic lives in the rural space have also been imminently damaged. Routine repayments of micro credit and bill payments is accumulating for an even bigger shock, post the upliftment of the current restrictions. Though the individual household deficit might seem negligible to the common man, the lives of many are solely dependant on these expenses.

We, at ARTH (a non-profit development sector entity) are trying to find alternate ways to fund the cost of additional interest to our borrowers and take the burden off the women micro-entrepreneurs. This would further enable them to protect their families and revive their small businesses.

The total cost of COVID accrued repayments of micro loans availed by rural women is around INR 500,000 ($6,500) which is estimated to bring a lifetime impact on the livelihood of 3,000 rural entrepreneur and provide them a glimmer of hope to survive through these difficult times together.

ARTH is a registered non-profit entity, working for enhancing the livelihoods of women in rural and remote rural India. Our objective is to provide access of facilities pertaining to healthcare, credit, food supplies, etc. to the most vulnerable sections of the society, which are on the brink of collapse.

We humbly appeal for your generous support during this dark hour.