Ujjivan’s Social Development Fund program was launched in Kavalbysandra, a branch in Bangalore last week. This is the second branch where this program is operational.

As part of the program, branch staff and customers from the community undertook a project to help their local Government schools and anganwadis (Government run child-care centres). As part of community development project, 75 chairs, 5 large (30-litre) water drums and 2 carpets were provided to 4 schools and 3 anganwadis in the locality.

Education for children has always been a focus area for the poor urban women. They felt that the Rs.25000, which is provided as the Social Development fund, would be best used in improving the conditions of the institutions where they send their children. The customers were very happy with the new facilities and expressed their gratitude to Ujjivan for providing the funds.

Ujjivan has apportioned a part of profits to empower customer leaders and the branch team at the field level to undertake Social Development Programs (SDP) of their choice preferably to support the welfare of their (customers’) children.

The Social Development Program is to be carried out at 130+ branches this year and Rs.3.15 Million has been allocated towards this initiative. The program involves a decentralised and participatory approach with the view to empowering the customers & the branch team to jointly decide to undertake urgently needed community development projects.