Absence of access to timely low cost credit has been the most prominent detriment in the fight against poverty. Women Thrift and credit groups have shown the way. In the urban areas thrift and credit groups have been a success under the SJSRY. The Stree Shakti Programme of the State Government has shown that the effort can be quickly scaled up (75000 groups have been set up in the rural areas. The internal savings of these groups are nearing Rs. 90 crores). A pilot experiment in Bangalore has shown the way for the involvement of the NGOs and the other stakeholders like the bankers in the programme.

          Because of both its sustainability and replicability the setting up of the thrift and credit groups will be scaled up in the Nirmala Nagara cities and towns. It will be called the Urban Stree Shakti programme. This programme is expected to mobilise over 1,20,000 poor women to form 8000 thrift and credit groups.

          The Government will assist the groups by infusion of Rs. 5000 to each group. But, more important will be the capacity building of the groups by suitable training programme through the NGOs. Though thrift and credit will be the mainstay, these groups will become the focus for many convergence activities.