PILOT PROJECT / अग्रगामी परियोजना 

A feasibility and pilot study of the effects of microfinance on under 5 mortality and nutrition amongst the very poor in India, a cluster randomised trial, is currently running to evaluate the effects of the Rojiroti microfinance scheme in 23 tolas in the state of Bihar, India. A tola is a residential area within a village. Villages in India are often divided by the caste of the residents and each community resides in a localised area within the village. These areas are called tolas. In this study, the participating tolas are the unit of randomisation and children in tolas where the self-help groups are established at the start of the study will be compared with children in tolas where the self-help groups are established 18 months later. The pilot project is running in the villages around Patna.

Children under five years of age have their weight, height and mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) measured. These will be used to calculate their weight-for-age z-score and weight, weight-for-height z-scores and MUAC for age to assess their nutrition.

At the end of September 2013

• Residents of 23 tolas have consented for participation in the pilot study.
• For obtaining informed consent, we have used a novel approach of video recording the consultation with the potential participants followed by a show of hands to indicate willingness to participate. A sample video of this process can be viewed here.
• Baseline data have been collected from the participating mothers and children have been weighed and measured.