Within a newly formed Mahila Mandal, CORD forms SHGs with ten to twenty women in each SHG. The purpose of the SHG is to obtain microcredit from banks with, encourage members to save, and to lend money to its members. In an informal setting, the women learn basic financial skills. They begin with minimal contributions, learn to inter-loan, and keep books.
They move from taking loans for their essential needs to setting up their own retail outlets such as Guru Dhara Self-Help Group Shop. The SHGs are also forums to link family members to other financial products- individual bank accounts, pension and insurance schemes of the government. CORD is moving towards digitalization of the SHGs through the e-Shakti program of NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development).