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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP)
| logo = Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty Logo.tiff
| caption =
| type = Development Organisation
| traded_as =
| genre = 
| fate =
| predecessor =
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| foundation = 
| founder =
| defunct = 
| location_city = [[Vijayawada, India|Vijayawada]], [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| location_country = India
| location =
| locations =
| area_served = Rural Areas of Andhra Pradesh
| key_people = Women, Rural Poor
| industry =
| products =
| services =
| revenue =
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| net_income =
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| assets =
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| parent = Government of Andhra Pradesh
| divisions =
| subsid =
| homepage = [http://www.serp.ap.gov.in www.serp.ap.gov.in]
| footnotes =
| intl =
}}
'''Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP)''' is an autonomous society of the Department of Rural Development, [[Government of Andhra Pradesh]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microfinancefocus.com/content/exclusive-54-microfinance-related-suicides-ap-says-serp-report|title=Microfinancefocus.com|access-date=13 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331201030/http://www.microfinancefocus.com/content/exclusive-54-microfinance-related-suicides-ap-says-serp-report|archive-date=31 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> SERP is implementing Indira Kranthi Patham (IKP),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.serp.ap.gov.in/SHG/aboutus.jsp |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-10-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808235416/http://serp.ap.gov.in/SHG/aboutus.jsp |archivedate=8 August 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> a statewide community driven rural [[poverty reduction]] project to enable the poor to improve their livelihoods and quality of life through their own organizations. It aims to cover all the rural poor households in the state with a special focus on the poorest of the poor households.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flonnet.com/fl2423/stories/20071207507609600.htm |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-03-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216131817/http://flonnet.com/fl2423/stories/20071207507609600.htm |archivedate=16 February 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> SERP also played an active part in the relief efforts taken up by the Andhra Pradesh Government during the devastating [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004]].<ref>http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/economy/article2216688.ece</ref>

== Vision Statement of IKP ==
''The disadvantaged communities shall be empowered to overcome all social, economic, cultural and psychological barriers through self-managed organizations. They will attain higher productivity with improved skills and asset base and utilize resources to full potential and gainful access to services.''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://serp.ap.gov.in/SHG/index.jsp |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-10-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006101628/http://www.serp.ap.gov.in/SHG/index.jsp |archivedate=6 October 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

== Internal Organizational Structure ==
SERP is registered under the Societies (Telangana) Act, chaired by the Chief Minister as the ''ex officio'' Chairman of the General Body (GB). This body has broad representation from key stakeholders, government and NGOs. The General Body consists of twenty-five members, with five ''ex officio'' government officials and twenty representing leading agencies and individuals contributing to rural development, community mobilization and poverty alleviation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rd.ap.gov.in/insserp.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-03-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120805194640/http://www.rd.ap.gov.in/insserp.html |archivedate=5 August 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

The management of SERP is entrusted to an Executive Committee (EC), of which an eminent non-governmental person is President and the State Project Director is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The President of EC is the Vice Chairperson of the GB. The EC consists of seven members with three ex officio government officials and four drawn from the civil society.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.serp.ap.gov.in/SHG/organogram.jsp |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-03-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313024640/http://www.serp.ap.gov.in/SHG/organogram.jsp |archivedate=13 March 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

== SHG Movement in Andhra Pradesh ==
The [[Self-help group (finance)|Self Help Group]] (SHG) movement in India represents an innovative approach to [[Financial intermediary|financial intermediation]], and combines access to low-cost financial services with a process of self-management and development for the SHG members. SHG members make small regular savings contributions, and use the savings to lend to group members. IKP also establishes SHGs as financial intermediaries between SHG members and banks, which gives the members access to bank loans. [[File:Women at a SHG Meeting.jpg|thumb|Women at SHG Meeting]]Through IKP, SERP works with 4,76,930 Self Help Groups federated into 28,080 Village Organizations (VO) and 700 Mandal Samakhyas (MS) with the primary obligation to build strong institutions for the poor and enhance their livelihood opportunities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aponline.gov.in/apportal/HomePageLinks/IndiraKantiPadham.htm|title=Indira Kranthi Padham|work=aponline.gov.in}}</ref>

A 2009 study found a significant economic impact for long-term SHG participants, including poorest of the poor participants. According to the study, 2.5-3 year exposure to the program leads to increased consumption, improved nutrition, and asset accumulation.<ref>Deininger, Klaus and Liu, Yanyan, Economic and Social Impacts of Self-Help Groups in India (1 March 2009). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper Series, Vol. , pp. -, 2009. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1372961</ref>

== Functional Areas of SERP ==
SERP’s mandate to eradicate the rural poverty in Andhra Pradesh is achieved through improvement in various functional areas that have been deemed important for the poor to break the shackles of poverty. Each of these functional areas caters to poverty elimination in its own unique way through providing livelihood opportunities, financial assistance for setting up businesses, health related benefits etc.

=== Women Empowerment ===
The ability of women to have access and control over assets, incomes and various other services available at village and individual level has been the basic outline of SERP’s Gender strategy. It has long been understood that Women Empowerment can go a long way in making equitable development a reality. The Gender programme of SERP helps women to increase their understanding of intra-family equity issues, decision making levels, free mobility, and the necessity of building a safe environment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.serp.ap.gov.in/GENDER/ |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-10-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818032050/http://www.serp.ap.gov.in/GENDER/ |archivedate=18 August 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/article2936599.ece|title=Concern over decline in sex ratio|author=Special Correspondent|work=The Hindu}}</ref>

=== Land Access to the Poor ===
Land represents a fundamental asset to the rural families in India as it is a primary source of income, security, and status.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.serp.ap.gov.in/BHOOMI/About_serp.jsp |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-10-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904195400/http://www.serp.ap.gov.in/BHOOMI/About_serp.jsp |archivedate=4 September 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Since its independence, the [[Government of India]] has taken up several land reforms as a part of its National Agenda. The Land component of SERP works in two directions: Land Purchase i.e. securing the poor access to productive lands through allowing purchase of good quality irrigated lands,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.serp.ap.gov.in/BHOOMI/purchase.jsp |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-10-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903182849/http://www.serp.ap.gov.in/BHOOMI/purchase.jsp |archivedate=3 September 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and Land Access i.e. facilitating the poor to have control over their lands in terms of having secure title, handling their lands locked in courts/disputes,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/article2798954.ece|title=A. P. Govt to begin massive campaign to resolve land disputes|author=Our Bureau|work=The Hindu Business Line}}</ref> awareness as to the measures taken by the Government to protect the interests of the poor manifested in the form of pro-poor enactments etc.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.serp.ap.gov.in/BHOOMI/access.jsp |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-10-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513070602/http://www.serp.ap.gov.in/BHOOMI/access.jsp |archivedate=13 May 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

=== SHG Bank Linkage ===
The SHG Bank Linkage programme was launched in the 1990s by [[National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development|NABARD]].<ref>Frances Sinha, "State of Microfinance in India", p.7. Can be found at: http://www.inm.org.bd/publication/state_of_micro/India.pdf{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> It's a nationwide effort with the largest presence in the southern states including Andhra Pradesh. As of 2008, 37.5% of all SHG Bank Linkage loans were made to borrowers in Andhra Pradesh.<ref>Pankaj Kumar and Ramesh Golait, "Bank Penetration and SHG-Bank Linkage Programme: A Critique", p.130. Can be found at: {{cite web |url=http://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/bs_viewcontent.aspx?Id=2029 |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-10-16 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101109032838/http://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/bs_viewcontent.aspx?Id=2029 |archivedate=9 November 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The program expands credit lines to SHG members by linking SHGs with banks. While banks have the necessary resources, they may be reluctant to lend to poor individuals who lack collateral. SHG Bank Linkage programme makes provisions for that. To qualify for a bank loan, SHGs need to show commitment to financial responsibility through regular meetings, consistent savings, and good management of the loans they make from their own savings. This process reduces the risk of defaults. Facilitated by [[NABARD]], SERP has been largely successful in providing the rural poor with access to loans{{Citation needed|date=October 2012}} resulting in the SHGs scaling up their operations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/banking/article3155775.ece |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-03-28 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329022120/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/banking/article3155775.ece |archivedate=29 March 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

=== Community Managed Sustainable Agriculture (CMSA) ===
The CMSA department of SERP works on ecological alternatives in agriculture which make best use of local resources and encourage the farmers to reduce the use chemical pesticides. This is done through advocating [[Non-pesticide management|Non-pesticide Management (NPM)]] of insect pests. The poor are encouraged to adopt sustainable agriculture practices to reduce the costs of cultivations thus increasing net incomes. Other major causes of agricultural distress among the rural farmers in India such as displaced local knowledge, unsustainable agricultural practices like [[monocropping]] and [[imperfect market]]s are also addressed.<ref>http://65.19.149.140/pilots/cmsanew/index.html</ref>

=== Institution Building ===
This segment works at building Community Based Organisations (CBOs) that aim to bring together the poor women and assist them to work collectively towards sustainable development. These CBOs; Zilla Samakhyas at district level, Mandal Samakhyas at [[Tehsil|mandal]] level, Village Organisations at village level and SHGs at the group level, form the basic structure on which the foundations for the growth of rural poor are laid.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120310165848/http://125.16.9.154/IHCB/HomePage.aspx]</ref>

=== Stree Nidhi ===
SthreeNidhi credit cooperative Federation Ltd., is promoted by the Government and the MandalSamkahyas to supplement credit flow from banking sector and is a flagship programme of the Government. SthreeNidhi provides timely and affordable credit to the poor SHG members as a part of the overall strategy of SERP for poverty alleviation.
SHGs are comfortable to access hassle free credit from SthreeNidhi as and when required using their mobile and therefore do not see any need to borrow from other sources at usurious rates of interest. SthreeNidhi is in a position to extend credit to the SHGs even in far flung areas of the state in 48 hours to meet credit needs for exigencies like health, education and other income generation needs like agriculture, dairy and other activities. As credit availability is linked to grading of MS and VOs, community is keen to improve functioning of the same to access higher amount of credit limits from SthreeNidhi.
<ref>https://www.streenidhi.telangana.gov.in/SNTG/UI/Home.aspx#</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

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[[Category:State agencies of Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Poverty in India]]
[[Category:Rural development organisations in India]]

Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty - Revision history

->Sadads: link poverty reduction using Find link