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The SKS Ultra Poor Program is a holistic program that meets the needs of ultra poor on multiple levels: economic, health and social. |
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| Component I: Economic Development |
Economic Development involves savings, livelihoods selection and 3-6 days of skills training. Savings inculcates a sense of financial discipline in members and provides cushioning during crisis events.
Members choose from a basket of options: |
| Asset Basket |
| 1. | Buffalo |
| 2. | Buffalo + Chickens |
| 3. | Goats |
| 4. | Chickens |
| 5. | Sheep |
| 6. |
Non-Farm Package 1: Telephone + Small Goods Shop |
| 7. |
Non-Farm Package 2: Telephone + Food Products |
| 8. |
Non-Farm Package 3: Telephone + Tea Shop |
| 9. |
Vegetable-vending |
| 10. | Horticulture Nursery |
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| Component II: Health Development |
The extreme poor are the least healthy group in society. SKS will tackle the incidence of sickness through a combination of preventive techniques and on-the-spot coverage. The health program is divided into: monthly visits, information sessions, screenings & camps, and health training for talented ultra poor members.
Monthly Visits
A Health Field Assistant (HFA) visits each member on a monthly basis to provide basic care or referrals as needed. Special attention will be given to pregnant members.
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| Information Sessions |
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The Health FA delivers monthly presentations on numerous health topics including: family-planning, pregnancy-related care, women’s health, safe water, sanitation, anemia, immunization and tuberculosis. |
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| Health Screenings & Camps |
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SKS will link with existing providers – government doctors and health-focused NGOs—to host screenings and information awareness camps. Screenings will allow medical practitioners to determine the number of those afflicted, and provide appropriate treatment. Awareness camps will provide a forum for local doctors to discuss a variety of health-related issues. |
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| Training of Ultra Poor Member |
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SKS will utilize the expertise of a doctor to train 1-2 ultra-poor members in each village on basic health services. These members will be equipped with the knowledge and basic medicines (provided free-of-cost by government) to serve as the touch-point for other members and their families who face health challenges such as dysentery, dehydration, gastrointestinal disorders, fever, de-worming, vitamin B deficiency, anemia and skin diseases. |
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| Component III: Social Development |
The extreme poor often exist in the margins of society. They have less confidence than other poor, which is one reason they avoid mainstream microfinance. Consequently, an important part of the Ultra-Poor program involves giving members the confidence to become active wage-earners in their families.
The four components of the Social Development component are:
| a. | Group Solidarity |
| b. | Increasing Social Awareness |
| c. | Family Development and Children upbringing |
| d. | Back-Up Support |
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Group Solidarity will be encouraged through weekly group meetings. Ultra-poor members in each village will use this time to discuss concerns and develop methods to problem-solve. The FA, through feedback from members, will also discuss relevant social development topics for group discussion.
SKS staff will also foster linkages with governmental and non-governmental bodies, to both raise awareness and receive information from external stakeholders. |
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Component IV
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Financial Education:
Financial Education is strategic intervention for SKS Ultra Poor Programme with the following training inputs.
Cash Flow Analysis:
The session introduces to cash flow analysis leading them to map income and expenditure.
Budgeting:
Helps in step by step budgeting at household level and imparts importance of savings as coping mechanism against unforeseen expenditures.
Goal setting:
Helps in setting financial goals by using cash flow analysis and budgeting. It also helps them distinguish productive expenses from infectious expenses.
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