SML started operations in 1989 as a not-for-profit society. It was the first MFI in India to obtain a NBFC (non-deposit accepting) license and also the first Indian MFI to carry out a microfinance securitization transaction.

SML currently serves more than one million members across the Ten Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajastan, Bihar, Uttaranchal and Jharkhand and has demonstrated healthy growth in the past three years. Presently, SML caters to the needs of poor rural women through its 3,022-plus staff spread across the MFIs 462 branches. It holds a total outstanding loan portfolio of over USD 148 million.

SML has employed a for-profit approach to create social returns by channelling funds from development institutions and commercial banks as collateral-free loans to Joint Liability Groups (JLGs). JLGs are the central element of the Grameen lending methodology adopted by SML.


Our Vision
To improve the quality of life of the poor by providing access to financial and support services abd to be a viable financial institution developing sustainable communities.

Our Mission
To mobilize resources to provide financial and support services to the poor, particularly women, for viable productive income generation enterprises enabling them to reduce their poverty.

Objectives
• To provide financial services predominantly to poor women.
• To create opportunities for self- employment for the underprivileged.
• To train rural poor in simple skills and enable them to utilize the available resources and contribute to employment and income generation in rural areas.