Thardeep Rural Development Programme(TRDP)

The Thardeep Rural Development Programme (TRDP) was formally established as an independent non-governmental organization (NGO) in July 1998, although it has had a presence in Tharparker for a much longer time. After its experience as a project implemented by the Save the Children Fund (UK), it embarked upon a long-term transition process, and began shifting its strategy towards a broader, integrated rural development programme. The programme’s vision is to facilitate a community-managed process contributing to the development of sustainable livelihood in Thar. The programme currently comprises six field units namely, Chachro, Islamkot, Chelhar, Diplo, Mithi, and Mithario Bhatti.
The Programme focuses on the fields of sustainable land use, health, education, microcredit and savings, and social mobilization. In an integrated approach to activity operations, TRDP considers human resources, gender and development, monitoring and evaluation, emergency, and advocacy as cross-cutting themes.
Microcredit Programme
The credit programme was developed and implemented in March 1997. It extends microcredit to community organizations (COs) on the basis of social guarantees rather than collateral. Microcredit is extended in the fields of enterprise, livestock development, small infrastructure development schemes, and agricultural inputs.
The credit and income generation programme is aimed at creating local financial institutions at the village level, a process involving capital formation through savings. The TRDP facilitates the process until CO savings reach the capacity to meet peoples’ demands with their own capital. As of 2000, the total amount disbursed was PKR 20.24 million to 2,773 borrowers. Of the total portfolio, just 9.58 % was at risk due to late payments at the end of 2000. The cumulative savings of COs has now reached PKR 6.34 million with an average balance of PKR 399 per member.
Future priorities of the microcredit programme include establishing an internal loan portfolio system at the community-based level, computer software (MIS), expansion of the microcredit programme, and reductions in loan delinquency.

Performance Indicator (The MIX)