WHO WE ARE

Inter-Mission Industrial Development Association (IID) is based in Chennai. 15 of its 18 Branches are located here. Chennai is the largest Metropolitan City in South India with a population of 8 million in Greater Chennai area. Of these, close to 40% live below the poverty line, i.e. the daily income earned for a family is less than the equivalent of US $ 2. 30% of the population live in slums. The level of illiteracy, especially in the slums and impoverished areas is high. Most of the people do not have a regular job and even if they get jobs they earn less than Rs.100 (US$ 2) daily. About 60% of these poor people are involved in informal micro enterprise activities to earn their livelihood. However, they have limited access to working capital and lack business development training to significantly grow a micro business activity. Unemployment is not a result of insufficient work opportunities, but it is related to lack of skill training and loving encouragement.