Anantapur district, where the Collective works, has very few profitable livelihood opportunities. This coupled with the breakdown of traditional systems of agriculture, which used to provide food security, has particularly affected the women of this area. The transition to a cash economy has raised the need for cash for various purposes such as food, health care and other domestic needs. The money earned by the household is inevitably controlled by the man of the house leaving the woman with little independence to provide for her family as it reduces her freedom to make financial decisions. The money earned is often spent by the men on things that are not crucial to the maintenance of the household. This drives up the thirst for loans.

Lack of options drives people (usually men) to borrow from money lenders at very high rates of interest, plunging the whole family into a vicious debt cycle. The women have no economic independence and the formal banking system does not lend to them due to a lack of trust or lack of security as most property is owned by men.

The Collective understands that the best way to stop discrimination against women is to make them aware of their situation and help improve their economic status. As this gives them self confidence they begin to refuse being discriminated against.

The women's programme of the Collective focuses on creating viable, relevant sustainable alternative banking institutions for rural poor women. These are owned and managed by them, cater to their needs and respond to issues they face. It provides them with the liquidity and flexibility to make decisions or to initiate income generating activities of their own. As women take responsibility for the welfare of families, the benefits flow to their families as well. This is recognized by the rest of the family.

The Collective has over the years initiated one Mutually Aided Thrift Cooperative Society (MATCS) in each of the three mandals it is working in. They work like banks, but are relevant to the needs of the women. In October 2003, the cooperatives were federated to form the Mahasakthi Network. Since December 2006 they have become financially independent and are owned and run by the members. The Collective helps them to conduct training programmes for their cadre and members.

Women's thrift groups are formed in the villages - there may be multiple groups in any one village. Each member deposits anywhere from Rs. 30 to Rs. 200 per month as savings. Every member of every group is also a member of the mandal level Mutually Aided Thrift Cooperative Society (MATCS). Every group has a system of regular meetings and maintenance of records and this has enabled them to form federations at the village level and then at the Mandal level. The Mandal level federations have been registered as MATCS. Loaning systems, interests rates and all other banking matters have been worked out, to the last detail, by the members.

Extensive training programmes have been organised for the cadre, the leaders of the Women's groups and the Directors of the Cooperatives in subjects such as Book keeping, Literacy, Gender, Ecorestoration, Watershed management, Panchayat Raj, etc.

Differences between a conventional bank and the Thrift Cooperatives initiated by the Collective

• Unlike the conventional banks the cooperative members have to compulsorily save
• Unlike the conventional banks the cooperative members cannot take back their savings until they withdraw their membership
• Unlike the conventional banks the cooperative members borrow from their savings
• Cooperative members get a higher rate of interest on their savings (6%) than from a conventional bank but the savings profile is for a longer term.
• In a conventional bank, account holders need to go to the bank to avail of services whereas a cadre of the cooperative comes to the member's village to transact business.
• Conventional banks have complex and long procedures for processing loan applications and this involves other expenses as well. However, the procedures are simple in case of the cooperatives. For small loans, it is local to the member's village and for large loans, only one trip to the cooperative's office is required.
• The cooperative provides counseling and advice to its members regarding the viability of larger loans and their utility in a locally understandable language.
• The motive of the cooperative is service and profit for its members unlike the conventional banks which make profit from their clients.