The Centre facilitates job led rural economic growth by promoting eco-entrepreneurship among landless and marginal households through Self Help Groups (SHGs), by way of identification of enterprises, demystification and customisation of on-farm, off-farm and non-farm technologies available in the universities and research institutions (especially on biological software's like bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers) to suit the local conditions with appropriate forward and backward linkages, business enterprises and capacity building for/ in a multiple livelihood systems among the rural men and women

The Centre promotes credit linked Biovillage models for effective and successful rural credit management and development. This facilitates a credible partnership with private and corporate sectors for technical and sustainable market support through the Community Banking Programme (CBP). The CBP was launched in 1998 as a credit support service for the community in taking up individual/ group micro-enterprises by providing interest free loans to small and homogeneous group of men/ women having a similar socio-economic background. The loans are provided from the Micro Credit Banks set up under CBP with the generous contributions from the members of Asia initiatives - Friends of MSSRF, Tokyo and Friends of Swaminathan, Australia.

Credits extension is an empowerment process by which the groups are able to take up eco-enterprises and also use the funds for leveraging additional resources. The advantages of Community Banking are:

• Need-based credit
• Timely and effective support
• Low transaction cost
• User-controlled revolving fund
• Credit accompanied by appropriate services and multiple livelihood opportunities

Micro-credit is extended mainly for market-driven micro-enterprises through a process of mobilisation, organisation, technology incubation and capacity building. The micro-credit is given as interest-free loan by entering into a legal agreement with the group. Repayment period is based on the nature and gestation period of the project. The group repays the loan from the income generated by the micro-enterprises started by them. Some of the aspects looked into while providing interest free loans are determined by the following parameters:

• Environment friendliness
• Cost-effectiveness
• Economic viability
• Increased job opportunities
• Empowering women

Through the CBP 282 SHGs, 2 SHG Federations and a Farmers' Federation have been supported. More than 4,000 individuals have availed support under this programme, the details of which are provided in the Micro Credit Banks database.