Livelihood

In rural India, over 85% of the income generated is from agriculture. However, over 12-15% of the families are landless. Among the land holders, 69% are marginal farmers with less than 1 ha holding and about 21% are small farmers with 1-2 ha holdings. Agriculture on such small holdings is unable to generate enough income even for their sustenance. Livestock is an important source of supplementary income. Rural families maintain 2-3 animals but over 70% of them are uneconomical due to low genetic base and poor management.
Forests have been providing many direct and indirect benefits to rural communities. But as a result of deforestation, over exploitation and biotic pressure, the existence of over 80 million tribals, who are dependent on forest products for livelihood, has been threatened. Poor productivity of the land and livestock and inefficient use of forests are the causes of seasonal employment in villages. Small farmers only have work for 100-120 days for growing one crop per year, which is not adequate to sustain their livelihood. (Source: BAIF Development Research Foundation). Thus rural India needs to look at alternate sources of livelihood generation for sustenance.

Dharmalife Response
The Dharmalife Entrepreneur (DLE) model is based on livelihood generation from non-agricultural methods for the Entrepreneurs. The DLEs earn commission on every social impact product they sell. In addition, Dharmalife has been instrumental in bringing livelihood generating quality products like sewing machines, mobile phones and bicycles to the rural population. A major impediment to procurement of livelihood generating commodities is financing. We provice financing support to Entrepreneurs as well as consumers.

For it’s Entrepreneurs, Dharmalife provides access to:
Trade Financing - a basket on customized credit terms to entrepreneurs.
Livelihood Financing - credit to entrepreneurs directly or through community based organizations.
For it’s customers, Dharmalife provides access to: Microfinance - consumer loans for social impact products through microfinance partners. Community Financing - finance through community-based organizations that give credit to its members.

Impact:
Dharmalife has provided access to the following income generating commodities to its rural consumers, thereby positively affecting their income generating capabilities.
Sewing machines – over 21,000
Mobile phones – over 47,964
Bicycles – over 5,874
Through our financing options, Dharmalife has made more than 47,000 social impact products affordable to rural consumers.