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Indian Grameen Services (IGS) is engaged in developing, pilot-testing, and incubating innovative livelihood promotion solutions for the poor. Their operations are broadly divided into two major thrust areas involving Grant-based development support and Fee-based business support services to augment, expand and achieve scales in the field of Livelihood promotion. In FY15, IGS implemented 43 projects in 18 states, thereby reaching over 15 lakh households.

Their activities include:

• Development Activities: These involve Research & Development for identifying appropriate livelihood opportunities, and intervention points for supporting rural producers. In addition, IGS builds the implementation capabilities of various Institutions, enabling them to deliver cost-effective livelihood promotion activities, either directly or by collaborating with agencies that influence the livelihoods of a large number of people. Under this division, IGS has undertaken the following initiatives –

1. Action Research Programs: The focus is on identifying potential sub-sectors (eg. paddy, cotton, groundnut, milk, lac, handloom) and vectors (eg. water, power) which can support a large number of livelihoods in the rural areas. As part of the sub-sector studies, the bottlenecks are identified and appropriate intervention strategies are developed, in collaboration with key players. Micro-interventions are undertaken to test these strategies and assessing their applicability at the grass root levels, and then scaled up to promote employment opportunities and livelihoods of the poor.
2. Livelihood Triad Services: The aim is to promote and support microfinance and livelihood initiatives of the  Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), community-based Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and upcoming NGO-MFIs in India. IGS provides (i) Financial inclusion services like savings, credit, remittances, insurance, etc. (ii) Institutional development (iii) Technical support services like market linkages, skills to expand, support for collaborations, etc.  

• Business Support Services: IGS has been involved in development of new products and channels for extending financial services to poorer households. They act as Banking Correspondents for three banks, to provide financial inclusion services at rural and semi-urban areas. They provide financial services to other NGOs/CBOs from their own Livelihood Fund. Over 12.5 lakh people have been covered, who now have access to financial services and improved income.
• Waste Management: IGS’ has helped in improving waste management practices of over 20 Municipal Corporations in FY15.