Changing power relations
Community Managed Resource Centres (CMRC) offer numerous services to poor rural people in southern India, ranging from legal consultancy, health services, loans and insurance through to training in the textile and computer sectors. CMRCs aim to become financially self-sufficient after a three to four year start-up phase. A small fee is charged for the services. Moreover, each of the some 120 self-help groups that make up the CMRCs pays a monthly contribution.
CMRCs are an illustrative example of how organisational innovations can succeed in changing the balance of power in villages and can sustainably compensate for structural deficits
Aloysius P. Fernandez
Member Secretary
Myrada
Bangalore, India
myrada@bsnl.in