Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) is a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and an apex micro-finance organization under the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The main objective of RMK is to provide micro-credit to poor women for various livelihood support and income generating activities at concessional terms in a client-friendly manner to bring about their socio-economic development.
The target beneficiaries include rural women and are from different economic activities viz., agriculture, horticulture, pisciculture, dairying, poultry & Animal husbandry, traditional & modern handicraft, small business including petty shop, teashop, vegetable & fruit shop etc., or any other income generating activities/ livelihood activities.
Since inception RMK has made a cumulative disbursement of Rs.302 Crore to more than 7.35 lacs poor woman beneficiaries through a network of over 1500 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)/ Intermediary Organizations.
Further, the following measures have been taken:
(i) Since 01.04.2013, maximum interest chargeable by RMK to NGO was reduced from 8 % to 6 %. and by NGOs to the end beneficiaries (Self Help Groups/Women entrepreneurs) has been reduced from 18% to 14 %.
(ii) In the 55th GB of RMK held on 17th November, 2015, the interest chargeable by NGOs to the end beneficiaries has been further reduced from 14 % to 10 %.
(iii) In the 57th GB of RMK held on August 2016, it has been decided to finance Self Help Groups through federations and also financing business loans to individual women entrepreneurs directly.