AUW works with the underserved communities to create more inclusive growth opportunities and empower them to lead a respected and dignified life
Identify economic opportunity
We focus on nurturing and supporting micro entrepreneurs. Our products are developed organically to address needs identified by women and the community we work with. We believe in continually evolving and adapting our efforts to better suit their needs.
Co-create the success model
While access to finance is one of the most important means to empower the underserved community, it certainly is not the only ingredient to ensuring their success. Our model is built on identifying the needs, sharing knowledge and co-creating, with the communities, meaningful services to support their entrepreneurial and life skills journey.
Drive a positive change in the community
We seek to bring about significant positive change not only in the lives of people but also in the structure of the local economy at the grass root level. Every time AUW extends a loan it enables someone to grow their business and create better opportunities for themselves as well as for others.
In 2015, our founder Shweta Aprameya decided to set up Arth Udgam Welfare Foundation to provide affordable and easy access to credit to rural communities, especially women micro-entrepreneurs. The foundation has since grown to provide meaningful services to thousands of rural women, empowering them to rise and work towards creating a better way of life.
AUW is empowering the community to lead a respected and dignified life
Our Work
We support and nurture micro-entrepreneurs while understanding that each customer is unique having unique needs. Our products are organically developed to address the needs identified by women and the community we work with.
Arth Jeevika
Encourages more women to participate in economic activities and drives their enterprising capabilities by providing group based loans.
Arth Vriddhi
Leverages data intelligence to offer affordable and highly customized loans to support new and promising entrepreneurs.
Our Impact
Manju is from Galla Mandi, Lucknow
She is a Pulses (Dal) Trader
Loan type: Group lending
Today she is a happy customer, having grown her business by four to five times
Today, Manju is a financially secure and, in fact, a proud business woman. With the eagerness to learn, she has been fast in adopting technology and is now repaying electronically.She feels technology has made things simpler and quicker. She is an inspiration for many other women to participate in economic activity and lead a better life.
19% of the total Indian population remains unbanked*
75% rural households do not have access to basic banking facilities**
Women labour force participation rate has shrunk to 28% in 2016#
Sources: *MFIs are key to financial inclusion, Business Line, 12 June 2016 | **Source: India census 2011 | #Employment rate is less than 37% (International Labour Organization, Global Employment Trends 2013: Recovering From a Second Jobs Dip (2013)
AUW is built on the foundation of creating relationships
At our core is a deep sense of customer centricity, inculcated through transparency in its business practices and design of products & services to meet their requirements. We value long term relationships based on mutual trust and respect.
Recent Updates
- Aug’18: Ananya Finance for Inclusive Growth comes on-board as institutional lender, sanctions Rs.20 million.
- Aug’18: To promote digital transactions among rural women, AUW has moved to 100% cashless disbursements of loans, directly into members bank accounts.
- Jul’18: AUW embarks on new growth journey, expands into 2 new states – Rajasthan & Haryana with launch of 1st branch at Bhiwadi and Pataudi respectively. With this total branch count increases to 10 branches in 3 states.
- Jul’18 : Intellegrow comes on-board as institutional lender, sanctions Rs.15 million.
- May’18: CRISIL grades AUW highest in the category of asset quality, operational processes and controls and appreciates the presence of senior experienced management as a key organizational strength.
- May’18: AUW recognized as a member of Sa-dhan – The Association of Community Development Finance Institution in India.
- May’18: AUW awarded the Excellence Award at the 3rd MiNE India Conference: Microfinance and NBFC Exhibition cum Conference, Mumbai.
- Apr’18: In the fiscal year 2017-18, AUW touched the lives of 7 thousand clients with total portfolio outstanding increasing to Rs.100 million.