SHG 1

CHAPTER - II
CONCEPTS AND REVIEW OF LITERATURE

.
Self-Help Groups play a pivotal role in reducing poverty levels, generating

employment and empowering women. Various studies have proved that different
models of credit linkage programmes are highly successful and the repayment rate
is more than 95% .Micro financing or group lending is being looked upon as an
instrument that can be considered as the golden stick for development and has
become a ladder for uplifting the poor women socially, mentally and attitudinally.
Some studies have highlighted the fact that the micro-enterprises of SHGs do not
have market development strategies and they face a lot of difficulties in positioning
their products in the market, relating to other competitors, products and markets.
SHG members who generally lack high level of literacy, technical competence,
market intelligence and entrepreneurial spirit face a lot of difficulties in carrying out
their business activities. The study attempts to find out the extent of success of
working of women self group members based on choice of business, marketing
strategies followed, financial sustainability, and the organization of the SHGs are
considered as important factors to determine the SHGs success in the long run.
This chapter consists of two parts. The first section deals with concepts and
definitions of terms which are much important for this study. The second section
presents the review of literature.
15
Empowerment of Rural Women through SHG: A Study in Tiruchirappalli Dt
Chapter - II
2.1
Concepts and Review of Literature
CONCEPTS AND OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS

Some of the terms used frequently in this study are defined for the purpose of
clarity.
2.1.1 Rural Women
It refers to the women living in the rural areas of Tiruchirappalli District in
particular.
2.1.2 Family
A family is a social unit wherein blood related persons live together and take
food from a common kitchen. For the present study a family within three members,
is taken as micro-family; a family with 4 or 5 members is considered as a smallfamily; a family with 6 or 7 members is considered as a medium-family and
a family with more than 8 members is considered as a large-family.
2.1.3
Self-Help Group (SHG)

A Self-Help Group is a small homogeneous group of not less than twenty
rural women living below poverty line (BPL) coming together to save small
amounts of money regularly and to mutually contribute to a common fund.
2.1.4 SHG Member
It denotes a woman member of the Self-Help Group in Tiruchirappalli
District mostly drawn from the families below poverty line.
2.1.5 SHG Leader
Each group selects a leader among them and she will hold office for a period
of three years. This leader manages the group members.
16
Chapter - II
2.1.6
Women Entrepreneur
Women entrepreneur may be defined as Woman or group of women who
initiate organize and run a business enterprise. Government of India defined the
women entrepreneur as an enterprise owned and controlled by woman having
minimum financial interest 51% of the capital and giving at least 51% of the
employment generated in the enterprise to women.
2.1.7 Income Generating Activities
Income generating activities are those initiatives that shape the economic
aspects of peoples lives through the use of economic tools such as credit.
2.1.8 Weaker Sections
All those sections of the population, who are living below the poverty line
and drawing an income of ` 11000 per annum in rural areas and ` 11850 per annum
in semi-urban areas, are considered as weaker sections. Presently, the norms vary
between ` 13000 to 19650 among different states.
2.1.9 Micro-finance
Micro-finance is a financial service of providing small quantity of finance by
the financial institutions to the poor. These financial services may include savings,
credit, insurance, leasing, money transfer, equity transactions etc.
2.1.10 Micro-credit
Micro-credit is defined as provision of thrift, credit and other financial
services and products of small amounts to the poor in rural, semi-urban and urban
areas for enabling them to raise their income levels and improve living standards.
17
Chapter - II
2.1.11 Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA)

Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas programme was
launched in 1982. Its aim was to empower rural women living below the poverty
line (BPL) by way of organizing them to create sustainable income generating
activities through self-employment.
2.1.12 Swarnajayanthi Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)
Swarnajayanthi Gram Swarozgar Yojana, a major anti-poverty programme is
being implemented since 1999, with the prime objective of bringing the assisted
poor families above the poverty line by ensuring reasonable and sustained level of
income over a period of time. This scheme adopts SHG approach and aims to
graduate them from micro-credit stage to micro-enterprises stage by providing skill
development training, bank credit, infrastructure facilities and much needed
marketing support to the products produced by them. Government of India and the
State Government are sharing the costs in the ratio of 75:25.
2.1.13 Revolving Fund (RF)
Revolving Fund is a financial assistance provided to SHGs to augment their
group corpus and create credit discipline by enhancing their financial management
skills. Proper utilization of revolving fund will help in making SHGs creditworthy
and access bank loans. This fund has been provided to those groups passed Grade-I.
2.1.14 Economic Assistance (EA)
This type of financial assistance is given to those Self-Help Groups after
a period of one year from the date of inception of the group which has passed
Grade-II. This purpose of the economic assistance is to make them start an
18
Chapter - II
economic activity. The total amount of loan that can be availed by each group is
` 500000 and the amount of subsidy on the loan is ` 125000. The Mahalir Thittam
pays this amount of subsidy to the bank for the amount of loan advanced to the
groups.
2.1.15 Savings
For the present study it means the savings of SHG members in respective
area. The savings per member is calculated by dividing total savings by the number
of members. It refers to the respective area for the time specified.
2.1.16 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
They are registered bodies that operate within Tiruchirappalli district which
act as self-help promoting institutions and their role lies in SHG formation,
monitoring and stabilization of rural women by providing financial linkage.
2.1.17 Facilitators
The facilitators are those who propagate the message, motivate the rural
women, organize SHGs, train them to thrift and credit management and nurture
them over a period of six months. For the present study the facilitators include the
project officers of the projects sponsored by the central and state governments,
NGOs, formal financial agencies like Commercial Banks, Regional Rural banks and
Cooperative banks in Tiruchirappalli district.
2.1.18 Mahalir Thittam
Mahalir Thittam is a scheme launched by the Government of Tamil Nadu
with its own fund to cover the entire State including Tiruchirappalli District in a
phased manner.
19
Chapter - II
2.1.19 Direct Tangible Results

In the present study, they refer to the select assets acquired and revealed by
the sample SHG members.
2.1.20 Indirect Tangible Results
In the present study these are the resulted changes in income rate and
changes in savings and expenditure as caused by the change in income.
2.1.21 Empowerment
Empowerment is a process and is not something that can be given to women.
The process of empowerment is both individual and collective. For the present
study it refers to the upliftment of rural women as reflected and assessed in selected
economic and social indicators.
2.1.22 Economic Empowerment
Economic empowerment in the present study means only the upliftment or
growth or development or advancement noticed among the SHG rural women in the
select indicators - Direct Tangible Results and Indirect Tangible Results.
2.1.23 Social Empowerment
It means only the awareness of members on additional knowledge or use of
skill obtained through SHG membership in the select social aspects like sanitary,
women welfare, decision-making and public interest. The awareness in each aspect
is conditioned by and revealed through select parameters and these are termed as
social indicators.
20
Chapter - II
2.1.24 Social Parameters

These are the parameters or elements appropriately selected by the
respondents which influence them as revealed by them.
2.1.25 Traditional Types of Occupations
These are occupations of the SHG members in the study area which are
associated with the knowledge and skill already possessed by the members or
members of the family before joining SHG.
2.1.26 Non-traditional Types of Occupations
These are occupations which are is not at all associated with the earlier skill
and knowledge already possessed by the SHG member or members of the family.
They will be because of the training and the motivation given by the facilitators.
2.1.27 External Source of Support
This is the support extended by external agencies like NGOs, governments
and industrial development programmes towards upliftment of rural women.
2.1.28 Internal Source of Support
This is the support extended by the friends and the family members who are
closely related to the members.
2.1.29 Literates
Those SHG members who had formal education at least at school level are
called as literates.
21
Chapter - II
2.2
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Lalitha Shivakumar (1995) pointed out that the small savings by rural
women can generate the requisite resources which can wean the people away from
the exploitation of moneylenders savings depend on habits and voluntary savings
constitute the key for economic progress. It has also been proved that the poor
people can save substantially through group efforts. Promotion of Self-Help Groups
have the potential to bring women into the mainstream of economic development
paving the way for sustainable development.1
Karl (1995) studied the role of SHGs of women on decision-making and
concluded empowerment as a multifaceted process, involving the pooling of
resources to achieve collective strength and countervailing power and entailing and
the improvement of manual and technical skills, administrative, managerial and
planning capacities and analytical reflective abilities of local women.2
Dodkey (1999) explaining that Self-Help Groups are now gaining
acceptance, as an alternative system of credit delivery, for meeting the credit needs
especially to the people who are the poorest of poor generally comprising small
marginal farmers. Landless agricultural labourers, rural artisans, womenfolk and
other micro-entrepreneurs. The SHGs are regarded as a support system to the
exiting banking operations. The objectives of the SHG is to inculcate the habit of
thrift, savings, banking culture, i.e., availing loan and repaying the same over a
N. Lalitha Shivakumar, Self-Help Groups, Social Welfare, July 1995, Vol. 42, No. 4,
p. 9.
Karl Marilee, Women and Empowerment Participation and Decision-making, Zed

Books Ltd., London, 1995.
22
Chapter - II
given economic prosperity through credit. The principles underlying the SHG
model in India are almost identical to Bangladesh concept, i.e., financing the
poorest of the poor, ensuring excellent recovery level and empowering women not
just by meeting their needs for consumption and productive loans but also through
more holistic educative programmes on issues such as sanitation, family planning
and the evil effect of liquor consumption in the family.3
Sivasubramanian (1999) in his study had stressed the elimination of poverty
as one of the principle objectives of Indian development strategy. In 1993, the
below poverty line was 36 per cent. The BPL data which worked out of 320 million
people, 224 million live in rural areas. The incidence of poverty had declined from
54.9 per cent in 1973-74 to 36 per cent in 1993-94. The salient features of antipoverty programmes are framed under various schemes to bring growth. In 1999,
the reformed scheme of Swarnajayanthi Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) would be
centered on the concept of SHGs and cluster approach for reaching out the poor as
an effective vehicle. Poverty can be attentively eradicated only when the poor start
contributing to the growth process through a process of social mobilization,
participatory approach and empowerment of the poor.4
Rajeswari and Sumangala (1999) explored the problems and prospects in
women entrepreneurship and stated that women entrepreneurship enables to pool
M. D. Dokey, Sustaining rural women, Social World, March 1999, Vol. 45, No. 12,
p. 19.
M. N. Sivasubramanian, Credit-based poverty alleviation programme innovative

approach, Kurushetra, November 1999, Vol. 48, No. 2, p. 37.
23
Chapter - II
the small capital resources and skills available with women. It paves the way for
fuller utilization of capital and also mobilizes the female human potential.5
Gurumoorthy (2000) pointed out that womens participation play a
significant role in rural employment activities. The self-help would concentrate on
all round development of the beneficiaries and their village as a whole. The groups
would undertake the responsibility of delivering non-credit service such as literacy,
health and environmental issues. The concept of Self-Help Group would mould
women as responsible citizens of the country for achieving social and economic
status. It has also proved that it would bring on the mindset of the conservative and
tradition bound illiterate women in rural areas.6
Kamath (2000)7 observed that unemployment is a major malady faced by the
rural youth in our country. To motivate and facilitate unemployed youth to take up
self-employment, Bank has established nine self-employment training institutes in
the southern state, under the aegis of its trust. These institutes have been established
keeping in view the national priorities. The number of women who have been
benefited from the banks financial assistance so far is an impressive six lakh plus
with an outstanding of ` 1216 crores. The bank totally assisted 6754 groups of
M. Rajeswari and P. Sumangala, Women, Entrepreneurs - A Scan on their problems

and Prospects in Women Entrepreneurship: Issues and Strategies, Kanishka
Publishers, New Delhi, 1999.
T. R. Gurumoorthy, Self-Help Groups Empower Rural Women, Kurukshetra,

February 2000, Vol. 48, No. 5, p. 36.
R. J. Kamath, Rural Development Activities, Southern Economist, November, 2000,

Vol. 39, No. 14, p. 19.
24
Chapter - II
which 5304 are women group. These women group are backing a silent revolution
in the rural areas ushering in social and economic empowerment.
Suman Krishnan Kant (2001) opined that the process of womens
empowerment is multi-dimensional. It enables women to realize their full potential
and empowers them in all spheres of life. In India, women form a significant part of
the labour force. However, their contribution remains invisible and unrecognized.
Women account for 90 per cent of labour force in the informal sector, which is
neither captured in the countrys population census nor accounted in the National
Accounts. The productive capacities of women, who constitute almost half of the
population, remain unaccounted, thus, reinforcing their subordinate roles. It is
estimated that nearly 1300 million persons in the world are poor and nearly two per
cent of them are women. Today as many as 30 to 35 per cent rural households are
women headed and their low incomes make them vulnerable to the extremes of
poverty and its consequences.8
According to Veluraj (2001), the Nobel Scholar and Indian Economist
Amartya Sen expressed in his words, Unless women are empowerment, issues like
literacy, health and population explosion will remain unresolved problems of the
developing countries. In India, the majority of the women still continue to perform
their traditional roles in the household and in agriculture. The women are the wives
of men - the present scenario forces them to depend on men. Representation of
women has never gone beyond eight per cent in parliament, 10 per cent in the State
Sunman Krishna Kant, Womens Empowerment and Mutual Cooperation in the

Family, Social Welfare, April 2001, Vol. 48, No. 12, p. 3.
25
Chapter - II
Assemblies, 13 per cent in senior management and administrative posts of

government and hence there is no equal opportunity.9
Self-Help Groups are encouraged to come together as cooperative societies
at the village and mandal level by federating them under the mutually aided
Cooperative Society Act (1995). These societies will be accessing credit from
financial institutions, donor agencies, District Rural Development Agency (DRDA)
and voluntary organisations and help the women members of the Self-Help Groups
in availing bigger loans for economic activities as well as help in collective
bargaining in the marketing of products, purchasing of raw materials etc. Due to this
massive self-help movement, there is a perceptible improvement in the socioeconomic status of the rural women (Snch Lata Tandom, 2001).10
Patel (2001) welcomed that the announcement of National Agricultural
Policy recently by the Government of India and signing the agreement on
agriculture with the World Trade Organisation. He stressed that a focused attention
needs to be given to restructure the rural credit system along with integrating
agricultural research, extension and education system, building rural infrastructure
and making government officials responsive to the emerging needs of farm sector
development. It is against this background an attempt is made here to appreciate the
present status of the rural credit structure in respect of credit disbursal, recovery
R. Veluraj, SHGs an alternative approach to empower rural women, Tamil Nadu

Journal of Cooperation, June 2001, Vol. 1, No. 8, p. 18.
10
Snch Lata Tandom, Self-Help New Mantra for Empowerment, Social World, October
2001, Vol. 48, No. 23, p. 30.
26
Chapter - II
performance and building up on non-performing assets, declining trend in the flow

of credit and other issues of serious concern.11
Ghosh (2001) pointed out that combating poverty cannot be managed by the
government alone. There are many areas where government needs collaboration and
cooperation
from NGOs
particularly
in creating opportunity facilitating
empowerment and providing security to the poor. The pressure of the donor
agencies on the recipient government to work through NGOs in development
programme is also a dominant factor in increasing the role of NGOs to fight against
poverty.12
Bina Agarwal (2001) said that the secure and effective land rights are of
critical importance for womens welfare and empowerment. But achieving this will
need concerted efforts by gender-progressive NGOs, especially womens groups, as
well as by those within the government who are concerned about womens
empowerment, poverty and equitable development.13
Subramanian (2001) pointed out that the NGOs are useful in organizing SelfHelp Groups and in capacity building and in developing access to the institutions
and resources of the State. However, officials were suspicious of the role of NGOs
who were perceived as undermining their power. When NGOs were allowed to
implement government projects there was too much bureaucratic meddling. The
long list to dos and donts of government procedure accord ill with NGO thinking
11
A. R. Patel, Rural Credit System, Kurukshetra, January 2001, Vol. 49, No. 4, p. 17.
12
D. K. Ghosh, NGO intervention in poverty alleviation, Kurukshetra, March 2001,

Vol. 49, No. 6, p. 2.
13
Bina Agarwal, Land Rights and Gender Equity, Yojana, August 2001, Vol. 45, p. 35.
27
Chapter - II
and approach. In the recently restructured self-employment programme in the form

of the Swarna Jayanthi Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY), group schemes through
the formation of SHGs have been overwhelmingly preferred. However, in none of
the North Eastern States BPL lists are ready to organize households into SHGs to
implement the programme.14
According to Ojha (2001) Self-Help Group model of self-employment
generation seems to be a workable model. However, there will be need for utmost
care in promotion of Self-Help Groups. Self-help promotion consists of assisting
individuals to join together and set-up an organisation promoting their individual
and collective skills and opportunities to develop their own. Self-help promotion
aims at generating self-sustainable growth processes within the course of which the
target group makes its own decision.15
Dipendrta Banarjee (2001) gives the most acceptable definition of microfinance. It is the provision of thrift credits, other financial services and products of
very small amount to the poor in rural, semi-urban and urban areas to enable them
to raise their income levels and improve the standard of living. The micro-finance
service, unlike direct credit to weaker sections, and loan under SGSY banking
institution have a discretion to determine the interest on micro-credit. The
importance of micro-credit in financial markets is progressively gaining universal
acceptance as an effective tool to eradicate poverty and unemployment prevailing in
14
S. Subramanian, Rural Development and Tribal Aspirations in Tripura, Kurukshetra,

January 2001, Vol. 49, No. 4, p. 22.
15
R. K. Ojha, Self-Help Groups and Rural Employment, Yojana, May 2001, Vol. 45,
p. 20.
28
Chapter - II
developing countries. It helps to provide credit for dispossessed people to build

business and empowerment occurs when these people witness effort and outcome.
The Central Bank has left the application of interest rate to loan extended to microcredit organisation or by the micro-credit organisation to Self-Help Groups /
member of beneficiaries to the discretion of the bank with only stipulation.16
The Ministry of Human Resource Development (2001) pointed out that in
order to enhance womens access to credit for consumption and production, the
establishment of new, and strengthening of existing micro-credit mechanisms and
micro-finance institution will be undertaken so that the outreach of credit is
enhanced. Other supportive measures would be taken to ensure adequate flow of
credit to financial institutions and banks, so that all women below poverty line have
easy access to credit.17
Vijay Kulkarni (2000)18 has described in his article Empowerment of
Women through Self-Help Groups the difference between women who have
become part of SHGs and those who are not members of the SHGs from the same
village. Empowerment has taken place across caste/class. It has also helped to some
extent to go beyond caste politics and to bring them together as women.
16
Dipendra Banarjee, Micro-financing, Southern Economist, February 2001, Vol. 39,

No. 20, p. 19.
17
Report of Department of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Human

Resource Development, Economic Empowerment of Women, Yojana, August 2001,
Vol. 45, p. 69.
18
Vijay D Kulkarni, Empowerment of Women through Self Help Groups, Ashwatha,

Oct 2000 - Jun 2001, Vol. 1, No. 4, pp. 32-36.
29
Chapter - II
Barik and Vannan (2001)19 in their work Promoting Self Help Groups as a
Subsystem of Credit Cooperatives have stated that SHGs can be developed as a
sub-system to primary agricultural co-operatives societies at village level. They
have seen that by and large SHGs have been linked with commercial banks in the
rural areas. However, the linkage with the co-operative credit system is proverbially
poor. As such the need of the hour is to make an earnest effort to bring about
effective linkage with the co-operatives.
Ojha (2001)20 in his article Self Help Groups and Rural Employment has
expressed that the self help group model of self-employment generation seems to
be a workable model. However, there will be need for utmost care in promotion of
self help groups. He has also mentioned that there are number of possible routes to
the promotion of self-employment and strengthening self-help groups is one of
them.
Mani Singh (2001)21 has explained in his article Self-Help Groups: Some
Organizational Aspects that the organizational functions are motivation, meeting,
adoption of a fixed area of operation, monthly meeting, fixation and collection of
monthly thrift, maintenance of books of accounts, formulation of rules and
regulations, increase in membership and framing of policies/programmes follow
co-operative norms. He has also revealed that the social functions are providing
19
B. B. Barik and P. P. Vannan, Promoting Self Help Groups as Sub-System of Credit

Co-operatives, The Cooperator, January 2001, Vol. 38, No.7. pp. 305-311.
20
R. Ojha, Self Help Groups and Rural Employment, Yojana, May 2001, Vol. 45,
pp. 20-23.
21
C. H. Mani Singh, Self Help Groups Some Organizational Aspects, The

Cooperator, May 2001, Vol. 38, No. 11, pp. 497-99.
30
Chapter - II
education, knowledge and information, providing idea of consumer protection and

environment protection, preventing harmful diseases, eradication of poverty, and
linkage with other agencies for socially useful activities.
Joshi (2002) observed that micro-credit programmer extends small loans to
poor people for self-employment projects that generate income, allowing them to
care for themselves and their families. In most cases, micro-credit programmer
offers a combination of services and resources to their clients in addition to credit
for self-employment. These often include savings, training networking and peer
support. It is an irony that micro-enterprises and the contribution to the economy
often remains unorganized. Poor women usually run their own individual economic
activities very efficiently because of sheer survival pressure on them. But public
support for the economy is usually absent so it is very difficult for poor women to
improve their economic situation individually and alone. When interventions are
made to strengthen womens economic activities, it is very important to credit the
positive policy linkages for access to raw materials, markets, skills, space, credit,
equipment etc. without this policy support, the most efficiently managed economic
activities find it difficult to generate more income for poor women.22
Archana Sinha (2002)23 observes that the SHGs are informal groups where
members come together toward collective action for a common cause. The common
need here is meeting their emergent economic needs without being dependent on
22
S. C. Joshi, Micro-credit not charity, Social Welfare, February 2002, Vol. 48, No. 32,
p. 12.
23
Archana Singh, Types of SHGs and their work, Social Welfare, February 2002,
Vol. 48, No. 11, p. 15.
31
Chapter - II
outside help. The main objectives of SHG is to inculcate the habit of thrift, savings,
banking culture, that is, availing the loan and repaying the same over a given period
of time and in the process, gain economic prosperity through credit. Hence, SelfHelp Groups and micro-credit should be seen as one of the components of a
solution to accelerate the socio-economic development particularly of the rural poor
women in India. A judicious mix of micro-credit along with other activities with
emphasis on development and empowerment strategies and processes would
certainly make micro-credit an effective instrument of social and economic
development particularly of the women in a holistic and integrated manner.
According to Suguna (2002), the empowerment of women covers both an
individual and collective transformation. It strengthens their innate ability through
acquiring knowledge, power and experience. Organizing and strengthening of
womens Self-Help Group: Institutional collective action - collective action of
members, Ideology - Empowerment and Organisational structure - Project
managing unit - Project implementation - NGOs-SHGs. This develops their ability
to interact and communicate with each other. Thus bringing about integrated
development of women. To conclude, it may be said that through this collective
action with the ideology of empowerment, SHG are fast emerging as women
movement throughout the nation especially in Andhra Pradesh where 50 per cent of
such SHGs in the country are formed.24
According to Alakananda Mookerjee (2002), the first step towards complete
empowerment is the generation of a source of regular income and hence Self-Help
24
B. Suguna, Self-Help Groups, Vikasini, October 2002, Vol. 17, No. 4, p. 11.
32
Chapter - II
Groups were created. In January 1999, two SHGs for women belonging to the
general category namely Lakshmi Bachat Samuk and Ambika Bachat Samuh were
setup. Inspired by their phenomenal success, the Scheduled Tribe women
established one more SHG the following year Durga Bachat Samuh. Their
combined membership now stands at 59. Initially each member was required to
make a monthly savings of ` 100 and deposit it in a collective fund. Over the past
three years, the SHGs have managed to save well over ` 2 lakh. They were keen to
invest their savings in a profitable venture. The formation of SHG therefore,
converted a traditionally gender neutral activity into a source of livelihood for
village women. So, in the second step, attention was focused on building their
capacity for loan repayment and enhancing their decision-making ability.25
Rao (2002) pointed out that the genesis and development of SHGs in India
reveals that the existing formal financial institutions have failed to provide finances
to landless, marginalized and disadvantaged groups. The origin of SHGs could be
traced to mutual aid in Indian village community. Cooperatives are formal bodies
whereas SHGs are informal SHGs encourage savings and promote incomegenerating activities through small loans. The experiences available in the country
and elsewhere suggest that SHGs are sustainable have reliability, stimulate savings
and in the process help borrowers to come out of vicious circle of poverty.26
25
Alakananda Mookerjee, Rural women draw Shakti from setting up dairy

cooperatives, Vikasini, January 2002, Vol. 17, No. 1, p. 37.
26
V. M. Rao, Women Self-Help Groups Profiles from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka,
Kurushetra, April 2002, Vol. 50, No. 6, p. 26.
33
Chapter - II
Preethi Chandrasekar (2002) examined that the Self-Help Groups of rural

women, promoted by the Mahalir Thittam are steadily reaping fruits of economic
independence through their savings. The Karuppayurani branch of the Indian Bank
was the latest to distribute household articles worth ` 5 lakh to 64 women under the
Gramin Mahalir Sowbhagya Scheme. Mahalir Thittam aims to achieve four key
aspects to empower rural women, especially those living below the poverty lineeconomic, social, educational and political of these economic empowerment was
the crucial as it would bring about the other three aspects. The five-year
entrepreneurship development programme trains SHGs to be self-sufficient and
resourceful in running their business.27
Lalitha (2002) examined that the Self-Help Groups and Bank linkage project
being implemented under the guidance of NABARD which gives an institutional set
up for micro-entrepreneurs. This linkage programme is a part of micro-finance
operations emphasizing a savings based credit programme, flexibility in lending,
operations, de-linking credit from the bondage of collateral requirements, group
leading inter-group learning, group decision in fixing repayment schedule, skill
development through training and promotion of backward and forward linkage
facilities through NGOs. The net working among the banks, NGOs and women
borrowers can open new vistas in building a new micro-credit structure lending to
sustainable development. Women development cooperation and Government
departments also engage the services of NGOs for mobilizing women under their
schemes on the development of micro-enterprises. The effective partnership
27
Preethi Chandrasekar, Mahalir Thittam upgrades SHGs, Hindu Publication, November

18, 2002, p. 5.
34
Chapter - II
between reputed NGOs and banks for promotion of Self-Help Groups will provide a
strong institutional base for a credit-plus approach to micro-enterprises of women.28
According to Lalitha and Nagarajan (2002) empowerment literally means
becoming powerful. Empowerment of rural poor demands that members of village
committees should have their own organisation, which will serve their own
economic needs and interest exclusively. Moreover sufficient knowledge about the
needs and problems of rural poor has not been supplied to the policy making
agencies. If SHGs are promoted, the group members can articulate the problems in a
better manner.29
Bharat Dogra (2002)30 has presented in his article Women Self Help
Groups that almost all these women are from poor families, mostly from dalits and
backward classes; while the increase in income is important, it is not the only aspect
of these SHGs which is emphasized. Several existing problems of villages and ways
of overcoming them are also discussed. It is important for the long-term success of
Self Help Groups that loans should be returned promptly.
Prem Singh Dahiya et al. (2002)31 have described in their article Socioeconomic upliftment through Self Help Groups in Solan District of Himachal
28
N. Lalitha Sivakumar, Self-Help Groups, Social Welfare, July 2002, Vol. 42, No. 4,
p. 9.
29
N. Lalitha and B. S. Nagarajan. Self-Help Group in Rural Development, XII Edition,

Himalaya Publications, New Delhi, 2002, p.78.
30
Bharat Dogra, Women Self Help Groups, Kurukshetra, March 2002, Vol. 50, No.5,
pp. 40-42.
31
Prem Singh Dahiya, N. K. Pandey and Anshuman Karol, Socio-Economic Upliftment

through Self-Help Groups in Solan District of Himachal Pradesh, Journal of
Agricultural Development and Policy, Jan-Jun 2002, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 10-18.
35
Chapter - II
Pradesh that the success or the efficiency of micro finance interventions can be
understood at three levels mainly (i) outreach and financial sustainability of the
programme, (ii) income or poverty impact on the users, and (iii) development of
financial market at the local level. The economic impact is measured in terms of
increase in annual incremental income. All SHGs recorded increase in income,
overall is 94.3%. They have also pointed out that various parameters are used to
measure the maturity of the households. These are (i) homogeneity, (ii) feeling of
relevance of group formation, (iii) awareness about objectives of groups,
(iv) participation and frequency of meetings, (v) regularity of savings,
(vi) repayment of loans and (vii) group participation in financial transactions.
Jaswant Singh (2003) says that Self-Help Group and bank linkage
programme being propagated by NABARD, for the last ten years has been
recognized as the largest and fastest growing micro-finance programme in the
world. Our expectations of providing bank credit to 1.25 lakh SHGs during the
current year have been surpassed once again, and by January 2003, bank credit of `
598 crore has already been provided to about 25 lakh poor families through 1.50
lakh new SHGs. The programme has also set in motion the process of women
empowerment. However, the spread of the programme across the country has been
uneven and has largely remained confined to a few States. He urges all states to
vigorously join in their endeavour to make the SHG bank linkage programme a
widespread success.32
32
Jawant Singh, 2003-04 Budget Speech on Union Minister of Finance and Company
Affairs, Southern Economist, March 2003, Vol. 41, No. 22, p. 16.
36
Chapter - II
Rajamohan (2003) points out that the SHGs is a medium for the development
of savings habit among the women fold. It mobilizes a large quantum of resources.
It is a window for better technology and skill upgradation. It helps to increase an
income of the family. In SHGs collective action and solitarity are important
empowering mechanisms.33
Rajeshwari (2003) explains that a bank branch finances directly to SHG by
opening the loan accounts in the name of SHG. Bank loan is disbursed in the ratio
of savings in the common fund of SHG. The maximum permissible ratio between
savings in the common fund and bank loan is from 1.1 to 1.4. The bank branch
finances SHG, which is formed at the instance of an NGO, but the responsibility of
repayment solely lies with SHG. The bank achieves better and wider coverage of
weaker sections in rural areas in a cost effective manner by mobilizing deposits
from the savings of SHG members.34
Sivaramakrishnan (2003) explains that the Swarajayanti Gram Swarozgar
Yojana aims at establishing a large number of micro-entreprises in the rural areas,
building upon the potential of the rural poor. The objective under SUSY is to bring
every assisted family above the poverty line in three years. Towards this end SUSY
is conceived as a holistic programme of micro-enterprises covering all aspects of
self-employment, viz. organisation of the rural poor into Self-Help Groups and their
33
S. Rajamohan, Activities of Self-Help Groups in Virudhunagar District: A study,

Tamil Nadu Journal of Cooperation, April 2003, Vol. 3, No. 6, p. 15.
34
V. Rajeshwari, New Generation Cooperatives through Self-Help Groups, Tamil Nadu

Journal of Corporation (TNJC), August, 2003, Vol. 10, No. 10, p. 14.
37
Chapter - II
capacity building, planning of activity clusters, infrastructure build up, technology,

credit and marketing.35
Om Raj Singh (2003) has indicated in his article Role of NGOs in fostering
Self Help Groups that most of the SHGs have come up due to the dynamic
leadership of certain individuals within a group or through the catalytic role played
by the NGOs in developing such groups. One such NGO is the MYREDA (Mysore
Resettlement and Development Agency) whose mission is building of peoples
institutions. The building of appropriate peoples institutions to manage and control
resources is an essential component for sustainability and for the confidence and
self-reliance which is necessary to cope with external threats. He has also pointed
out that the focus on institution building goes against the prevalent culture of
patronage where benefits flow to individuals with the right contracts. MYRADA
has over 1006 groups of women with the focus on womens rights and access to and
control of resources which they require to ensure a sustainable livelihood.36
Prasant Sarangi (2003)37 has mentioned in his article Self Help Groups that
the SHGs in our country have become a source of inspiration for women welfare.
He has also highlighted that nowadays, formation of SHG is a viable alternative to
achieve the objectives of rural development and to get community participation in
all rural development programmes. SHG is also a viable organized set up to
35
K. Sivaramakrishnan, Poverty All Eviction through Self-Help Groups, TNJC, March

2003, Vol. 3, No. 5, p. 9.
36
Om Raj Singh, Role of NGOs in fostering Self-Help Groups, Kurukshetra, Feb 2003,
Vol. 51. No.4, pp. 33-35.
37
Prasant Srangi, Self Help Groups, Kurukshetra, Feb 2003, Vol. 51, No.4, pp. 30-32.
38
Chapter - II
disburse micro credit to the rural women and to encourage them to enter into
entrepreneurial activities.
Jerinabi (2003)38 in her work A study on micro credit management by
womens self help group has analyzed the impact of micro credit on SHG members
in improving their economic status in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu.
Chiranjeevulu (2003)39 in his article Empowerment of Women Through
Self Help Groups has revealed that the multi-pronged strategy including local
marketing to export has been contemplated. The product will be thoroughly
popularized among all the SHGs in the district and channels for distribution of
product to all the strategic marketing locations will be developed. He has also
highlighted that network with other marketing enterprises of SHG women in
neighboring districts will be established. Consumption points under the control of
government like hostels and devasthanams would be approached for bulk orders.
Product will also be marketed through PDS and Gruhamithra supply channels.
Sivaramakrishnan (2003)40 has disclosed in his article Poverty Alleviation
Through Self Help Groups that the poverty levels have reduced from 56.44% of
Indias population in 1973-74 to 37.27% in 1993-94. The IX Five Year Plan
document envisages reducing rural poverty in the country from a level of 30.55%
(208 million) during 1996 to 9.64% (73 million) by 2006 and further to 4.31%
38
V. Jerinabi, A Study on Micro Credit Management by Women Self Help Groups,

Ph. D. Thesis, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 2003.
39
T. Chiranjeevulu, Empowering Women through Self Help Groups, Kurukshetra, Mar

2003, Vol. 51, No. 5, pp. 16-19.
40
K. Sivaramakrishnan, Poverty Alleviation Through Self Help Groups, Cooperation,

March 2003, Vol. 3, No. 5, pp. 8-14.
39
Chapter - II
(35 million) by 2011. He has also mentioned that organization of the rural poor into
Self Help Groups is one of the ways to reduce the poverty.
Raghavendra (2003)41 in his article Self Help Groups Linkage Banking
Challenges of Training Role played by National Centre says that the training has
a vital role to play in the scaling up of the linkage programme. A major challenge
faced by NABARD,SIDBI and banks is meeting the training needs of various
players in the programme such as SHG members, functionaries of NGO,
government and banks who should be exposed to different types and levels of
training and awareness programmes.
Rajamohan (2003)42 in his article Activities of Self Help Groups in
Virudhunagar District A Study has specified that according to a recent survey, 18
lakhs families out of 41 lakhs families are below the poverty line in the State of
Tamilnadu, and they have been covered by the SHGs. He has also indicated that the
programme was launched in 1998 and the total savings with 1.06 lakhs SHGs were
` 150 crore.
Villi (2003)43 has highlighted in his article Self Help Groups Micro
Enterprises (Some Issues, Challenges, Alternatives) That rural micro enterprises
play a vital role in areas like promoting and generating avenues for rural
employment, utilization of local rural resources, skills development, promotion of
41
K. Raghavendra, Self-Help Group Linkage Banking: Challenges of Training - Role

played by National Centre, Land Bank Journal, March 2003, Vol. 41, No. 4, pp.71-76.
42
S. Raja Mohan, Activities of Self-Help Groups in Virudhunagar District: A Study,

Cooperation, April 2003, Vol. 3, No. 6, pp. 15-17.
43
C. Villi, Self Help Groups: Micro Enterprises (Some Issues, Challenges,

Alternatives), Cooperation, July 2003, Vol. 3, No. 9, pp. 20-24.
40
Chapter - II
rural entrepreneurship, mitigating regional imbalance, reducing rural urban

disparity, arresting migration of rural labour to urban centres and creating capital
assets in the rural areas itself.
Rajeshwari (2003)44 in her article New Generation Co-operatives through
SHGs has described the models of financing SHG. In model I, the bank branch
finances directly the SHG by opening the loan account in the name of SHG. In
model II the bank branch finances SHG which is formed at the instance of NGO.
The maximum permissible ratio between savings in the common fund and bank
credit is 1:4 for concerned NGO which acts as facilitator, but the responsibility of
repayment solely lies with SHG. In model III the local bank branch does not have
adequate confidence in lending to SHG promoted by NGO or in SHG itself for
various reasons and is not willing to be linked directly with the SHG; the bank
finances such SHG through the agency that promotes the group. The NGO may act
as a financial intermediary and is responsible for loan repayment.
Sabyasachi Das (2003)45 has explained in his article Self Help Groups and
Micro Credit Synergic Integration that the inability of the credit institutions to deal
with the credit requirements of the poor effectively has led to the emergence of
micro-finance or micro-credit system as an alternative credit system for the poor.
He has also mentioned that in rural India, it can be seen that the poorer sections of
the society and destitute cannot avail the credit from banks and other formal
44
V. Rajeshwari, New Generation Co-operatives through Self Help Groups,

Cooperation, August 2003, Vol. 3, No. 10, pp. 14-18.
45
Sabyasachi Das, Self Help Groups and Micro Credit-Synergic Integration,

Kurukshetra, August 2003, Vol. 51, No. 10, pp. 25-30.
41
Chapter - II
institutions due to their inability to deposit collateral security and mortgage

property. At this point of view, micro-financing or group lending is being looked
upon as the instrument that can be considered as the golden stick for poverty
alleviation vis-a-vis rural development.
Bhagyalakshmi (2004) in her study stresses the need for sharpening womens
empowering strategies to make them effective and results oriented. She pointed out
that money earned by poor women is more likely to be spent on the basic needs of
life than that by men and that this realization would bring women as the focus of
development efforts. She also examines the advantages of organizing women
groups thereby creating a new sense of dignity and confidence to tackle their
problems with a sense of solidarity and to work together for the cause of economic
independence.46
Loganathan (2004)47 has disclosed in his article SHGs and Bank Linkages
the three basic groups of banks which are involved in SHGs linkage with banks.
They are the commercial banks, the regional rural banks and the co-operative banks.
48 commercial banks, 192 regional rural banks and 264 co-operative banks are
associated with SHG and Bank Linkage Programme. This programme is in
operation over 523 districts across the nation. Average loan disbursement per SHG
as micro finance by commercial banks was Rs. 31,836 and the same by RRBs was
Rs 26,220 and by cooperative banks was ` 21,703.
46
S. Bhagyalakshmi, Womens Empowerment: Miles to Go, Yojana, August 2004, Vol.

48, pp. 38-41.
47
P. Loganathan, SHGs and Bank Linkages, Kisan World, April 2004, Vol. 31, No. 4,
pp. 24-26.
42
Chapter - II
Sundar and Asokan (2004)48 have expressed in their article Performance of

Co-operative Banks in Financing Women Self Help Groups that cooperative banks
are financing Women Development Programmes in terms of self-help groups.
Cooperative banks in Karnataka State occupy the first position with respect to
coverage of more number of women SHGs in their credit plan, followed by Tamil
Nadu, Andhra and Kerala.
Rimjhim Mousumi Das (2004)49 in his article Micro finance through SHGs
has explained that microfinance through SHGs has become a ladder for the poor to
bring them up not only economically but also socially, mentally and attitudinally.
He has also revealed that micro finance not only deals with the credit part but also
deals with savings and insurance part. The most successful region for micro finance
is the southern part of India.
Nirmala et al. (2004)50 in their study SHGs for poverty alleviation in
Pondicherry have discussed the performance and impact of SHGs on the
empowerment of rural poor women in Pondicherry region. The following are the
objectives examined by the study: (i) to observe the socioeconomic background of
the sample respondents during the survey; (ii) to identify the main determinants of
monthly income of the respondents; and (iii) to examine the benefits and problems
48
I. Sundar and R. Asokan, Performance of Co-operative Banks in Financing Women

Self Help Groups, Cooperative Perspective, January 2004, Vol. 38, No. 4, pp. 5-26.
49
Rinjhim Mousuni Das, Micro Finance through SHGs, Kurukshetra, February 2004,
Vol. 52, No. 4, pp. 43-45.
50
V. Nirmala, K. Sham Bhat, and P. Bhuvaneshwari, SHGs for Poverty Alleviation in

Pondicherry, Journal of Rural Development, June 2004, Vol. 23, No. 2, pp. 203-215.
43
Chapter - II
experienced by the SHG sample respondents. Such a study has contributed to an

understanding of the functioning of SHGs in the rural Pondicherry.
Tripatty (2004)51 has presented in his article Self Help Groups that
necessary training could be provided to the SHG members to create awareness on
community health, traditional and modern agriculture practices, micro-credit,
veterinary practices and water resource management, Panchayat Raj and other
relevant issues applicable to the areas concerned. He has also provided that with
appropriate mechanisms, various Ministries/Departments/Organizations can look
towards the SHGs for targeting their programmes, which ultimately would help in
improving the quality of life in rural areas.
Rasheeda Bhagat (2004)52 in her work, India Interior has expressed that
there has been a sea change in the attitude of men towards womens groups and
micro finance. She also stated that in the last 10 years, the bankers attitude has
changed substantially and there is a remarkable difference in the way they look at
these womens groups. That is a major success of this programme.
Shanthi and Dhanalakshmi (2004)53 in their article, Case Study of Womens
Empowerment through SHGs in Gobichettipalayam Block, Erode District state that
empowerment is an active, multi-dimensional process which enables women to
realize their full potential and powers in all spheres of life. Womens empowerment
51
K. K. Tripathy, Self Help Groups, Kurukshetra, June 2004, Vol. 52, No. 8, pp. 40-43.
52
Rasheeda Bhagat, India Interior, The Hindu, July 16, 2004, p. 4.
53
G. Shanthi and C. Dhanalakshmi, Case Study of Women Empowerment through Self

Help Groups in Gobichettipalayam Block, Erode District, Cooperation, August 2004,
Vol. 4, No. 10, pp. 23-25.
44
Chapter - II
process starts with economic empowerment .They have also disclosed that
leadership qualities and active participation in group culture lead to improvement in
political acumen which would in turn strengthen and sustain the overall process of
empowerment.
Sanjoy Ray (2004) has mentioned in his article Linking Self Help groups
under SGSY scheme with Co-operatives Prospects and Concerns that the
distinguishing feature between SHGs and Co-operatives is that the latter often tend
to be large sometimes heterogeneous and formal and sometimes lose cohesiveness
and proximity with members in the process of their operations while the former is
informal based on interpersonal relations where decision making, implementation
and follow up become comparatively easy. He has also pointed that the Central
Government and State Government fund the SGSY in the ratio of 3:1.54
Kala (2004)55 has mentioned in her article Economic Empowerment of
Women through SHGs that amongst all the states, Tamil Nadu has the fourth
highest percentage of female - headed households in the country. The Tamil Nadu
Women Development Project (TNWDP) taken up for implementation under the
name of Mahalir Thittam covered about 10 lakhs poor women of the State in the
year 1997-98. Women SHGs share was 78% in March 1998. She has also stated that
men SHGs accounted for 40% or more in only six States, viz. Karnataka, Gujarat,
Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Meghalaya.
54
Sanjoy Ray, Linking Self Help Groups under SGSY Scheme with Cooperatives
Prospects and Concerns, The Cooperator, October 2004, Vol. 42, No. 4, pp. 128-131.
55
G. S. Kala, Economic Empowerment of Women through Self Help Groups, Kisan

World, November 2004, pp. 264-266.
45
Chapter - II
Anita Panda (2004)56 has explained in her article, SHG - A Boon for Many
that initially the women were assisting the males in the business, but subsequently
the women also came forward to start business independently. She has also revealed
that the members utilized the loan in their family business and repaid the due
amount in time.
Sheik Mohamed (2004)57 has mentioned in his article, Self Help Groups for
the Success of Women Entrepreneurs, that women are contributing significantly in
modern business and commercial world in their own way. Working women can be
classified into different categories like women entrepreneurs, highly qualified
professionals, employees in the organized private and public sectors and women
workers in unorganized sector. He has also explained that transforming the
prevailing social discrimination against women must become the top priority and
must happen concurrently with increased direct action to rapidly improve the social
and economic status of women.
Sorubarani and Thenmozhi (2004)58 in their article, Self Help Groups:
Gateway to Women Empowerment have described that the RBI issued instructions
to commercial banks regarding establishment of linkages by them directly with
NGOs and SHGs. They have also disclosed that the basic principles on which SHGs
function are group approach, mutual trust, organization of poor, manageable small
56
Anita Panda, SHG: A Boon for Many, The Cooperator, December Vol. 42, No. 6, pp.
264-266.
57
M. Sheik Mohammed, Self Help Group for the Success of Women Entrepreneurs,
Kisan World, March 2004, Vol. 31, No, 3, pp. 30-31.
58
P. Sorubarani and G. Thenmozhi, Self Help Groups: Gateway to Women

Empowerment, Cooperation, December 2004, pp. 10-12.
46
Chapter - II
groups, group cohesiveness, demand based lending, collateral free women friendly
loan, peer group pressure in repayment, skill training, capacity building and
empowerment.
Senthil Vadivoo and Sekar (2004)59 have focused in their article Self Help
Group A Movement for Women Empowerment that empowering women is not
just for meeting their economic needs but also for more holistic social development.
In SHGs, collective action and solidarity is an important empowering mechanism.
They are of the opinion that by empowerment, women would be able to develop
self-esteem, confidence, realize their potential and enhance their collective
bargaining power.
Venkatachalam and Jayaprakash (2004)60 have described in their article,
Self Help Group in Dindigul District that the concept of SHG has sown the seeds
for a silent revolution at the village level. It paves way for women to spell out their
views and to participate in the local administration. They have also pointed that
more than 80% of SHGs are established in rural areas and only 5% is located in
municipal areas.
Leelavathy (2004)61 has expressed in her paper, SHG is a creamy layer for
Womens social status that the SHGs remove the curse of money lenders. SHGs
59
K. Senthi Vadivoo and V. Sekar, Self Help Groups: A Movement for Women
Empowerment, Kisan World, July 2004, pp. 13-14.
60
A. Venkatachalam and A. Jeyaprakash, Self Help Groups in Dindigul District, Kisan

World, October 2004, Vol. 31, No. 10, pp. 29-30.
61
Leelavathy, SHG is a Cream Layer for Womens Social Status, Proceedings of

National Level Symposium on Self Help Group: A Silent Revolution, Arulmigu
Palaniandavar Arts College for Women, Palani, March 2004.
47
Chapter - II
are the ladder for upliftment of the down-trodden economically and socially. She
has also pointed out that the SHGs are taking up construction work for their hamlets
like laying of roads, closing down of liquor shops, contributing to the rehabilitation
works and management of their village affairs.
Rosappu and Kalyana Sundar (2004) have discussed in their article,
Economic Independence through Self Help Group that in the absence of extra time
and government jobs, the role of SHGs in generating funds, getting loan from the
banks and indulging in various business like making soaps, mats, chocolates,
pappads building toilets, coconut spoons, running tea shops, stone quarries,
installing gas plants and solar energy networks is highly commendable.62
According to Prema Parande (2005), empowerment is an active process of
enabling women to realize their identity, potentiality and power in all spheres of
their lives. There are several indicators such as participation in crucial decisionmaking process, ability to prevent violence, self-confidence and self-esteem,
improved health and nutrition conditions and at the community level, existence of
womens organisation, increased number of women in designing development tools
and application of appropriate technology etc. Improvement in economic status is a
more visible indicator of women empowerment. There are several factors that affect
empowerment of women, for instance education research document, campaigns and
networking training, conscious raising campaign, mind-full media, drawings, on
burning issues, etc. are all important means of empowerment yet, in particular,
62
K. Rosappu and K. Kalyana Sundari, Economic Independence through Self Help

Groups, Proceedings of National Level Symposium on Self Help Group: A Silent
Revolution, Arulmigu Palaniandavar Arts College for Women, Palani, March 2004.
48
Chapter - II
education and training are very effective means but also sustain empowerment
process in the long run.63
Micro-finance is being provided through Self-Help Groups and nongovernment organisations. The scheme is successful because it has almost solved
the problem of overdue. Besides credit is being put to the most productive use, the
SHG-Bank linkage has greatly helped the weaker sections. The voluntary agencies
should aim at real empowerment of women. As a result of reservation, there are a
large number of women sarpanches, but they do not function, but their husbands
function on their behalf, and the voluntary agencies must be in touch with
educational institutions for mutual benefit. Rural development is a vast field and the
problems are complex. Hence, voluntary action is needed to understand the nature
and dimensions of rural problems and also to evolve appropriate strategies to solve
these problems (Satya Sundaram, 2005).64
According to Ramakrishnan (2005), when the SHG initiative was launched
to provide the poor with access to formal financial services, it was somehow
expected that cooperatives would step into provide these services. Already existing
small local level institutions with their readily available support structure as seen in
the case of the agricultural credit societies were ideally placed to serve as outlets for
financial services to SHG, given their numbers and reach. Despite these advantages,
agricultural credit societies and cooperative banks have thus played a limited role in
63
Prema Parande, Economic Empowerment of Women, Southern Economist, March

2005, Vol. 43, No. 21, p. 7.
64
Satya Sundaram, Voluntary Action for Rural Development, Southern Economist,

December 2005, Vol. 41, No.15, p. 36.
49
Chapter - II
the programme of linking SHG across States, the relationship between commercial
success of cooperative banks, the extent of the linkage established and the impact of
such linkages on performance. Most banks offer nominal membership to SHG, and
only nine of the 199 banks allow full membership of any kind.65
As women receive better education and training, they earn more money and
as the economic status of women improves they gain greater social standing in the
household and the village and will have greater voice. As womens economic power
grows it is easier to overcome the tradition of son preference and also put an end
to the evil of dowry. According to the annual report of the Ministry of Rural
Development, 11.45 lakh of SHGs have been formed in India so far. 118413 SHG
exist in Tamil Nadu with 2326973 members in its fold (Fredrick, 2005).66
Vasanth Kannabiran (2005) says that the increasing participation of women
in micro-credit and formation of womens Self-Help Groups have done little more
than assuring short-term relief to ease immediate needs, what is absent is a longterm social, political and cultural vision that will end the subordination of women.
The declaration on SHGs, womens empowerment and poverty reduction point out
that one alarming outcome of the emergence of SHGs has been the manner it has
altered the nature of discourse on development and social justice by placing the
onus of overcoming poverty on the poor. What SHGs provide women today is mere
membership while obstructing and obscuring their movement. Then movement
65
R. V. Ramakrishnan, SHG-Bank linkage, Economic and Politically Weekly, April

2005, Vol. 40, No. 17, p. 1720.
66
J. Fredrick, SHGs Gateway to Success for Rural Women Entrepreneurs, Kisan World,
September 2005, Vol. 32, No. 9, p. 60.
50
Chapter - II
serves to advertise the accountability on the status of women in the international

arena, for the women themselves it is one step forward and two steps backward
guaranteed to maintain the status quo on the issue of subordination.67
Asokan and Sudha (2005) in their article, Economic Status of Rural Women
SHGs in Nagapattinam District with a Special Reference to Elumagalur Village,
empirically analyse economic status of rural women SHGs in Nagapattinam District
of Tamil Nadu. The results have shown that sample respondents assets structure has
increased after joining as members in SHGs, particularly financial assets increased
considerably from 6.6 to 15.5 per cent. About 40 per cent of income has been
generated through groups activities and 42 per cent of women have become
empowered in decision making. They have also revealed that the SHGs are
successful to some extent in the study area in respect of economic process and
social development.68
Chittaranjan Mishra (2005) in his article, SHGs in the unorganized garment
sector: A case study of Madurai has explained that two types of Self Help
Promoting Institutions (SHPI), namely, Government and NGOs are active in the
household level garment sector. The DRDA promoted SHGs are more organized
and have better infrastructure to carry out the activities relating to the garment
sector. The NGO promoted SHGs, on the other hand, have taken part in other
developmental activities in the village in a bigger way than in the DRDA promoted
67
Vasanth Kannabiran, Marketing Self-Help, Managing Poverty, Economic and

Political Weekly, August 2005, Vol. 40, No. 34, p. 3716.
68
R. Asokan and T. Sudha, Economic Status of Rural Women SHGs in Nagapattinam

District (with special reference to Elumagalur Village, Cooperative Perspective,
January 2005, Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 52-57.
51
Chapter - II
ones. He has also indicated that capacity building and credit availability are
complementary inputs to the growth of SHG-based garment sector.69
Kamaraju (2005)70 has mentioned in his article, Self Help Groups -Emerging
Rural Enterprises that in rural areas SHGs utilized the loan for purchasing milch
animals, goats and for meeting personal urgent needs. Some SHGs have purchased
power tillers for agriculture purpose on hire basis. Investment in power tiller will
increase their income both individually and collectively. Hiring out power tiller to
peasants is an important entrepreneurial activity of SHGs. He has also indicated that
the SHGs should function as a non-political and non-controversial one. Political and
religious neutrality paves the way for its healthy growth. He has also expressed that
SHG gains momentum nowadays because of its many-fold effect in the economic
empowerment of poor women.
Ramakrishnan (2005)71 has highlighted in his work, Online payment facility
to give boost to SHGs that online payment facility for products manufactured by
rural SHGs in the State will soon become a reality. Both the State and district level
bodies are marketing products made by the SHGs. He has also expressed that the
facility will be available to those within the country. Online payment can be made
by accessing the website, http://www.tnruralbazaar.in. The SHGs transact business
to the tune of Rs 2 crore to Rs 3 crore. A novel marketing strategy adopted by them
69
Chittaranjan Mishra, SHGs in the Unorganized Garment Sector: A Case Study of

Madurai, Kurukshetra, July 2005, Vol. 53, No. 8, pp. 43-46.
70
S. Kamaraju, Self Help Groups: Emerging Rural Enterprises, Kisan World, Aug 2005,
Vol. 32, No. 8, pp. 25-26.
71
T. Ramakrishnan, Online Payment facility to give a boost to SHGs, The Hindu, dated
7 Oct 2005.
52
Chapter - II
is Intra sales, where requirements of one set of groups are met by another. They
have set up 225 village shops and 28 district marketing complexes.
Subashini Muthukrishnan (2005)72 has explained in her paper Effective
marketing Strategies for women self help groups that the SHGs should be careful
in terms of positioning their product relative to other competitive products and
markets. They have to decide on the product and in price vis-a vis its cost of
production, returns and the price at which its competitors are selling the product,
credit time, marketing infrastructure available etc.She has also specified that SHGs
must focus on improving the quality of the product.
Velu Suresh Kumar (2005)73 has mentioned in his article, Women
Empowerment Success through Self Help Groups, that apart from financial
aspects, it also becomes a platform for exchanging ideas regarding prevention of
AIDS, dowry, nutrition, marital laws, literacy, sanitation, children rearing etc. He
has also pointed out that leadership qualities developed through SHG meetings have
seen 2500 women becoming presidents or members of panchayats and local bodies
in the State.
Banumathy (2005)74 has explained in her article Self Help Groups and Bank
Linkage that the initial role played by SHGs, prompted NABARD to venture
72
Subhasini Muthukrishnan, Effective Marketing Strategies for Women Self Help

Groups, Proceedings of the State Level Symposium on Socio-Economic Impact of SHG
on Women, P.S.G.R. Krishnammal College for Women, Coimbatore, February 2005.
73
Velu Suresh Kumar, Women Empowerment: Success through Self Help Groups,
Kisan World, November 2005, Vol. 32, No. 11, p. 31.
74
S. Banumathy, Self Help Groups and Bank Linkages, Kisan World, Nov 2005, Vol.
32, No. 11, p. 19.
53
Chapter - II
linkage of SHGs with banks in February,1992.She has also stated that RBI has
advised banks to initiate action for adopting SHG village programmers as a part of
their corporate strategy.
Suguna (2006) has pointed out Mahatma Gandhis words, Woman is the
companion of man, gifted with equal mental capacities, she has the right to
participate in the activities of man and she has the same right, freedom and liberty
as he, she is entitled to a supreme place in her own place in her own sphere of
activity as man is in bias.75
Sakunthalai and Ramakrishnan (2006) the concept of SHG is catching up as
the most viable means to empower women, especially at the grass-root level.
Women have shown extraordinary dynamism in organizing themselves in group
activities for income generation; better bargaining power and improvement in the
quality of life. Some advantages through Self-Help Groups in the villages and in the
community are inculcation of the spirit of Self-Help, collective action for
development, women begin to form similar group seeing the success of the other
SHGs, family welfare through social awareness women, enhanced social status
from secondary to primary, economic independence, voicing and acting against
social injustices, problem solving ability and increased consciousness.76
Nagayya (2006) in his article, Micro-finance for Self-Help Group has
stated that the bank and Self-Help Group linkages through financing agencies helps
75
B. Suguna, Empowerment of Rural Women through Self-Help Groups, Discovery

Publishing House, New Delhi, 2006, p. 73.
76
A. Sakkunthalai and Ramakrishnan, Socio-economic Empowerment of Women,

Kisan World, July 2006, Vol. 33, No. 7, p. 31.
54
Chapter - II
to empower the poor and mobilizing collective strength to make them self-reliant.
He has also stated that government intervention will not be able to bring a change in
intrinsic attitude of the communities so as make efficient use of credit sanctioned.77
Harjeet Ahlulwalia (2006) opines that women in India are a mixed lot. Some
are well in control of their destinies; others depend to a large extent on their
husbands or fathers and are denied even the freedom of thought. Somewhere along
the line there are also women who actually run their households single handedly not
because they are separated or widowed but because their men would have it so. This
is a predominant feature of the below poverty-line families. The search for
employment takes them away from home, leaving their children prey to neglect,
hunger, disease and even exploitation. In extreme cases, women are even forced
into prostitution. The answer may not lie in giving jobs to women, but it certainly
eases their burdens if enough employment avenues were available closer to home,
rational training programmes conducted that can lead to assured incomes with
flexibility in working hours, child-care centre set-up etc. Well kept conveniently
located day-care homes, dedicated train or bus services to commercial centres, more
congenial work environment etc. are all major factors that can both encourage full
time working women and increase their productivity levels.78
Sandhya Rani (2006) says that the Indian economy needs to generate a large
number of jobs in the decentralized rural non-farm sector. The rural economy in
77
D. Nagayya, Micro-finance for Self-Help Group, Kurukshetra, 2006, Vol. 48, No. 11,
p. 10.
78
Harijeet Ahluwalia, Empowerment of Women: An Economic Agenda, Yojana,

August 2000, Vol. 44, No. 8, p. 33.
55
Chapter - II
recent years has been showing clear positive signs for the micro-enterprise
opportunity especially for women. The prospects of micro-entrepreneurship are
many in a few sub-sectors such as trade, transport, construction and service.
Availability of micro-credit helps SHG women a lot and many women come
forward and establish micro-enterprises. At present a good number of NGOs and
financial institutions have been offering micro-finance especially to women microentrepreneurs. The micro-finance assistance from banks, NABARD and financial
institutions like SFCs has been encouraging women to start micro-enterprises. As a
result micro entrepreneurship is gradually growing importance among the jobless
particularly among the educated and uneducated urban and rural women.79
Mohanam (2006) says that the micro-credit system has particular relevance
to women and their empowerment, considering the historical perspective of the
involvement of women in the thrift and credit activity. The role of NGOs is moral
significant and pronounced in the sphere of micro-credit. The rich experience of
NGOs and their problem is a potential factor that affirms their elevated role in the
sphere of micro-credit.80
Ghosh (2007) points out that there is no doubt that combating poverty cannot
be managed by the government alone. There are many areas where government
needs collaboration and cooperation from NGOs particularly in creating opportunity
facilitating empowerment and providing security to the poor. The pressure of the
79
G. Sandhya, Promoting Micro-entrepreneurship for Womens Development, Southern

Economist, May 2006, Vol. 45, No. 1, p. 45.
80
S. Mohanam, Micro-credit and Empowerment of Women: Role of NGOs, Yojana,

February 2006, Vol. 68, No. 4, p. 29.
56
Chapter - II
donor agencies on the recipient government to work through NGOs in development

programme is also a dominant factor in increasing the role of NGOs to fight against
poverty.81
According to Usha Rao (2007) women form an important segment of the
labour force and economic role played by them cannot be isolated from the total
framework of development as the role and degree of integration of women in
economic development is always an indicator of economic independence and social
status.82
According to Joshi (2007) micro-finance provides credit access to poor with
no collateral obligations. It encourages savings and promotes income-generating
activities. Loans are provided at the market driven rates of interest and peer pressure
is used in repayment. Micro-finance is carried out through Self-Help Groups, where
poor come together in the range of 10-20 by weekly, fortnightly and monthly
meetings through their savings and loaning. It is hoped that through such
interventions hitherto uncovered groups are covered with credit and in the process
get empowered.83
Laxmi (2007) reports that SHGs are to supplement credit strategies for
meeting the needs of the poor by combining the flexibility, sensitivity and
responsiveness of the informal credit system with the technical/ administrative
81
D. K. Ghosh, NGO Intervention in Poverty Alleviation Kurukshetra, March 2007,

Vol. 49, No. 6, p. 21.
82
J. Usha Rao, Women in a Developing Society, Ashish Publishing House, New Delhi,
2007.
83
S. C. Joshi, Micro-credit not Charity, Social Welfare, February 2007, Vol. 48, No. 32,
p. 12.
57
Chapter - II
capabilities and financial resources of formal financial institutions to build mutual

trust and confidence between bankers and the tribal poor and to encourage banking
in a segment of population that formal financial institution usually find difficult to
reach this innovative form of financing is imperative.84
Bimlasen (2007) mentions that the empowerment is an active process of
enabling women to realize their identity, potentiality and power in all spheres of
their lives. There are several indicators of employment. At the industrial level,
participation in crucial decision-making process, ability to prevent violence, selfconfidence and self-esteem, improved health and nutrition conditions and at the
community level, existence of womens organisation.85
Sivaramakrishnan (2007) opines that the Swaranajayanthi Gram Swarozgar
Yojana aims at establishing a large number of micro-enterprises in rural areas,
bundling upon the potential of the rural poor. The objective under SGSY is to bring
every assisted family above the poverty line in three years.86
While focusing on the definition of entrepreneurship, Indira Misra moves
onto incorporate some basic factors like openness to entrepreneurship, balancing
business attractions, willingness to invest, thinking beyond town borders etc. which
would be required by the rural community to look into and identify platforms and
opportunities either inherently available or which need to be developed to
84
R. K. Laxmi, Self Help Groups Innovation in Financing the Poor, Kurukshetra,

November 2007, Vol. 24, pp. 14-15.
85
G. Bimlasen, Women Power: The Changing Scenario, Better Books, Panchakula, 2007,
pp. 121-129.
86
Sivaramakrishnan, SHGs and the political participation of women in Panchayat Raj

Institutions: A case study, Southern Economist, 2007, Vol. 47, No. 18, p. 15.
58
Chapter - II
encourage entrepreneurship. It touches upon the fact that to promote rural

development, entrepreneurship was seen as a strategic development intervention
that could accelerate the rural development process. It is pointed out that institutions
and individuals seem to agree on the urgent need to promote rural enterprises.87
Mukundan and Hilaria Soundari (2008) report that one of the most basic
causes for the womens inferior status is the inadequacy of the legal system to keep
pace with the changing needs and times and to provide them with the framework
which would enable them to contribute their ability fully to society. Discrimination
between sexes may stem from attitudes, customs, traditions and cultural norms. The
victims of discrimination look upon law for equality and justice. Law includes not
only the provisions of the Constitution and legislation but also judgments and
governmental decisions and actions.88
Shobha (2008)89 has evaluated the problems of self-employed women. The
study took 400 self-employed women as sample from Coimbatore Municipal
Corporation limit and used scaling technique. The study has concluded that the
problems faced by the beneficiaries of Prime Ministers Rozgar Yojana are less
severe than non-beneficiaries.
87
Indira Misra, Towards Empowerment of women through Rural Entrepreneurship,

Indian Journal of Public Administration, October 2008, Vol. 43, No. 54, p. 933.
88
N. Mukundan and M. Hilaria Soundari, Emerging Dimensions in Self-Help Groups,

Dominant Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi, 2008, pp. 70-95.
89
Shobha, Problems of self-Employment of Women: An Analaysis, Southern

Economist, 2008, Vol. 47, No. 6, pp. 24-26.
59
Chapter - II
Sakthivel Murugan and Begum (2008)90 have made an attempt to explain the
predominant barriers to women entrepreneurs. The study is based on the primary
data collected from the sample 100 entrepreneurs of Chennai City. The study
reveals that social and cultural barriers are prominent formidable block for the
development of women entrepreneurs. The study concluded that entrepreneurs with
ability to plan and run a business, deliver quality products.
Gudaganavar Nagaraj and Gudaganavar Rajashri (2008) have examined the
empowerment of rural women through SHG. They highlight the progress of SHGs
in India from 1992-93 to 2006-07. They have also highlighted the region-wise
progress of SHGs and employment of women through SHGs. They conclude that no
development is possible without empowerment of women.91
Shiralashetti and Hugar (2008) have reviewed the progress of SHGs and their
linkage to bank. The study is based on the secondary data collected from annual
reports of the NABARD. The main objectives of the study are to examine the
progress of SHGs and bank linkage in India with a reference to Karnataka State.
The study includes district-wise and bank-wise linkage of SHGs in Karnataka State.
They conclude that SHG movement is a powerful tool for alleviating the poverty of
the people.92
90
M. Sakthivel Murugan and Begum Ayesha, Predominant Barriers of Women

Entrepreneurs, Southern Economist, 2008, Vol. 47, No. 6, pp. 31-34.
91
V. Gudaganavar Nagaraj, and S. Gudaganavar Rajashri, Empowerment of Rural

Women Through SHG, Southern Economist, 2008, Vol. 47, No. 19, pp. 35-37.
92
A. S. Shiralashetti and S. S. Hugar, Micro-finance: A study of SHG and Bank

Linkage, Journal of Business Studies, 2008, Vol. 5, No. 9, pp. 31-37.
60
Chapter - II
Ganapathi and Sannasi (2008)93 highlighted the factors influencing the

women entrepreneurs. The study highlighted the common features of women
entrepreneurs, challenges faced by them while undertaking the entrepreneurial
activities and the necessary strategies to overcome the challenges. The study
concluded that women must be motivated to establish business in the interest of the
family income in particular and national income in general.
Chandrashakar and Lokesh (2009) have pointed out that the NGOs are useful
in organizing Self-Help Groups, in capacity building and in developing access to the
institutions and resources of the State. However, officials are suspicious of the role
of NGOs who are perceived as undermining their power. When NGOs are allowed
to implement government projects there is too much bureaucratic meddling. The
long list of dos and donts of government procedure accords ill with NGO
thinking and approach. In the recently restructured self-employment programme in
the form of the Swarna Jayanthi Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), group schemes
through the formation of SHGs have been overwhelmingly preferred. However, in
none of the North-Eastern States below poverty line (BPL) lists are ready to
organize households into SHGs to implement the programme.94
Kumararaja (2009) in analyzing the impact of Mahalir Thittam of Tamil
Nadu State has observed that SHG women are currently involved in economic
activities such as production and marketing of agarbathis, candle and soap, ready-
93
R. Ganapathi, and S. Sannasi, Women Entrepreneurship: The Road Ahead, Southern

94
Chandrashakar and M. U. Lokesh, Role of SHGs in Socio-economic change of

vulnerable poor, International NGO Journal, April 2009, Vol. 4, pp. 127-131.
61
Chapter - II
made garments, pickles, pappad, vathal, fur toys, bags, palm leaf products,
ornaments, eatables, coir mat and other coir products, mattresses, chaples, leather
goods etc. The SHG women monitor the normal and proper functioning of the
ration shops, maintain vigil on brewing of illicit liquor and help the aged, deserted
and widows to obtain loan. In addition to savings, the SHGs are engaged in village
cleanliness, repair to village approach, adult literacy campaign, family planning and
child health, pulse polio campaign, backyard garden, health check-up camps,
prohibition in the village, banning tobacco consumption and sales, AIDS awareness
etc. The project has achieved 100% repayment in case of lending to SHGs, by banks
and 95% in internal lending of Self-Help Groups. Repayment rates of direct
borrowers have increased from 30 to 70 per cent. Banks disburse the credit to SHGs
within seven days at their doorsteps. SHGs help in forming Village Development
Council (VDC). These VDC members are involved in social and infrastructural
development works.95
Kumararaja (2009)96 has made an attempt to evaluate the performance of
SHGs in Tamil Nadu. The study highlights the progress of SHGs in India and in
Tamil Nadu. It reveals that there has been a steady progress in the number of SHGs
and amount of loan sanctioned. The study concludes that a timely and regular check
of the micro-credit through SHGs will contribute to a healthy progress and to the
overall development of rural women.
95
Kumararaja, Performance of SHG in Tamil Nadu, Southern Economist, 2009,

Vol. 47, No. 19, pp. 14-16.
96
Ibid.
62
Chapter - II
Sankaran (2009)97 has made a study on the trends and problems of rural
women entrepreneurs in India. The study highlights the conceptual aspects of trends
and problems of rural women entrepreneurs in India. It concludes that women have
creative ability, easy adaptability and ability to cope with setbacks.
The research done by Saurabh (2009) focuses on the experience of microfinance programmes in the context of liberalization. The author highlights the rural
Indian society and Indian rural financing system. The study suggests eliminating the
shortcomings of the existing rural financing system by establishing more
microfinance projects and RRBs98.
Lalitha and Prasad (2009)99 have analyzed the empowerment of women
through Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA)
programme in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. The study reveals that the
income of individual after joining DWCRA programme has increased
comparatively. The study concludes that the potential of women is not fully tapped
and utilized for the community.
Sarswathy et al. (2009)100 have analyzed the role of micro-finance in
Krishnagiri district. They highlight the role of Government of India, NABARD,
NGO and banks. The questionnaire was prepared and presented to 75 members of
97
A. Sankaran, Trends and Problems of Rural Women Entrepreneurs in India;, Southern

98
Saurabh Kumar, New Dimension of Empowerment, Professional Banker, 2009,

Vol. 9, No. 9, pp. 25-29.
99
K. Lalitha and G. Prasad, Empowerment of Women: DWCRA Programme, Southern

Economicst, 2009, Vol. 47, No. 23-24, pp. 13-16.
100
A. Saraswathy, S. Porkodi and M. Bhuvaneswari, Micro-finance in Krishnagiri

District, Indian Journal of Marketing, 2009, Vol. 39, No. 5, pp. 47-57.
63
Chapter - II
16 SHGs and 9 NGOs. The study reveals that majority of members agree to the
point that their income has increased after joining SHG. It concludes that SHGs
have become the development ambassador of villages.
NCSW Report (2009) states that Self-Help Groups have taken the form of a
movement for women especially rural womens social and economical
development. SHGs have arisen out of the perceived problems of womens lack of
access to resources at both the household and the village level. In the past 20 year,
Self-Help Groups have become significant institutions for rural development in
India. This has been particularly true in the case of poor women.101
Nagaraj and Chandrakanth (2009)102 explained an SHG is a group of about
10 to 20 poor women or men from a similar class and region, forming a savings and
credit organisation by pooling financial resources in order to extend loans to the
members at low interest with far fewer procedural hassles. Savings first is the
prime ethic of SHGs. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
(NABARD), Reserve of Bank of India (RBI) leading NGOs and a multilateral
agencies included SHG as strategic component to mitigate poverty.
Tonmoyee Banerjee (2009)103 his case study made an effort to estimate the
impact of Self-Help Groups created under SGSY programme and has been observed
101
NCSW Report, National Perspective Plan for Women, Government of India, Ministry
of Human Resource Development, New Delhi, 2009, p. 119.
102
N. Nagararaj and M. G. Chandrakanth, Economic Performance of Self-Help Groups

in Karnataka, Indian Source of Agriculture Economics, October-December 2009,
Vol. 64, No. 4, p. 604.
103
Tonmoyee Banerjee, Economic Impact of Self-Help Groups in Parganas District of

West Bengal, Journal of Rural development, October-December 2009, Vol. 28, No. 4,
pp. 451-452.
64
Chapter - II
that income generation through group activities has improved the average income of
group members, but the inequality of distribution of income is high among the
group members than that of the non-group members. Further there has been a
significant decline in the medical expenditure and school drop-out rate in the
families of group members than that of non-group members.
Nagayya and Koteswara Rao (2010)104 states that micro-finance refers to
credit provided to the poor for self-employment and other financial and business
services. They review the recent trends in the SHG-Bank linkage programme at
National and State level with special reference to Andhra Pradesh in detail and
certain aspects of the other three southern States, viz. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and
Kerala.
Satpal Sunil Phougat and Silender Hooda (2010)105 stated that there is lack of
diversities in the Self-Help Groups activities in the State. Highest amount of
resource have been spent on primary sector and mainly on milk cattle. There is less
attention has given in other areas such as handlooms, handicrafts and other activities
in the State. The problem of marketing of the goods by Self-Help Groups is a big
constraint in achieving the targets. So, there is need for proper attention to solve
such type of problems under SGSY.
104
D. Nagayya and D. Koteswara Rao, Micro-finance and Support Organisations in the

Southern States of India, Journal of Rural Development, 2010, Vol. 28, No. 3, pp.
285-300.
105
Satpal Sunil Phougat and Silender Hooda, Swarnajayanthi Gram Swarozgar Yojana
Programme implemented in Haryana, Southern Economist, February 2010, Vol. 48,
No. 20, pp. 41-44.
65
Chapter - II
Mahamood Khan and Dinesh (2010)106 analysed that the participation of

women are only within the PRI in name, but in reality, it is male family members
who hold the power. Views on improving womens participation, education, and
training for women members, public and family encouragement, government
encouragement through provision of more powers of funds, and seats for women,
and make their attendance in the meetings compulsory.
_____
106
D. H. Mahamood Khan and G. M. Dinesh, Role of Women in Panchayat Raj

Institutions, Southern Economist, February 2010, Vol. 48, No. 20, pp. 5-8.
66

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CHAPTER - II

CONCEPTS AND REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Self-Help Groups play a pivotal role in reducing poverty levels, generating

Concepts and Review of Literature

CONCEPTS AND OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS

Self-Help Group (SHG)

Concepts and Review of Literature

Concepts and Review of Literature

2.1.11 Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA)

Concepts and Review of Literature

Concepts and Review of Literature

2.1.19 Direct Tangible Results

Concepts and Review of Literature

2.1.24 Social Parameters

Concepts and Review of Literature

Karl Marilee, Women and Empowerment Participation and Decision-making, Zed

Concepts and Review of Literature

M. N. Sivasubramanian, Credit-based poverty alleviation programme innovative

Concepts and Review of Literature

M. Rajeswari and P. Sumangala, Women, Entrepreneurs - A Scan on their problems

T. R. Gurumoorthy, Self-Help Groups Empower Rural Women, Kurukshetra,

R. J. Kamath, Rural Development Activities, Southern Economist, November, 2000,

Concepts and Review of Literature

Sunman Krishna Kant, Womens Empowerment and Mutual Cooperation in the

Concepts and Review of Literature

Assemblies, 13 per cent in senior management and administrative posts of

R. Veluraj, SHGs an alternative approach to empower rural women, Tamil Nadu

Concepts and Review of Literature

performance and building up on non-performing assets, declining trend in the flow

in creating opportunity facilitating

D. K. Ghosh, NGO intervention in poverty alleviation, Kurukshetra, March 2001,

Concepts and Review of Literature

and approach. In the recently restructured self-employment programme in the form

S. Subramanian, Rural Development and Tribal Aspirations in Tripura, Kurukshetra,

Concepts and Review of Literature

developing countries. It helps to provide credit for dispossessed people to build

Dipendra Banarjee, Micro-financing, Southern Economist, February 2001, Vol. 39,

Report of Department of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Human

Vijay D Kulkarni, Empowerment of Women through Self Help Groups, Ashwatha,

Concepts and Review of Literature

B. B. Barik and P. P. Vannan, Promoting Self Help Groups as Sub-System of Credit

C. H. Mani Singh, Self Help Groups Some Organizational Aspects, The

Concepts and Review of Literature

education, knowledge and information, providing idea of consumer protection and

Concepts and Review of Literature

Concepts and Review of Literature

Alakananda Mookerjee, Rural women draw Shakti from setting up dairy

Concepts and Review of Literature

Preethi Chandrasekar (2002) examined that the Self-Help Groups of rural

Preethi Chandrasekar, Mahalir Thittam upgrades SHGs, Hindu Publication, November

Concepts and Review of Literature

N. Lalitha and B. S. Nagarajan. Self-Help Group in Rural Development, XII Edition,

Prem Singh Dahiya, N. K. Pandey and Anshuman Karol, Socio-Economic Upliftment

Concepts and Review of Literature

Concepts and Review of Literature

S. Rajamohan, Activities of Self-Help Groups in Virudhunagar District: A study,

V. Rajeshwari, New Generation Cooperatives through Self-Help Groups, Tamil Nadu

Concepts and Review of Literature

capacity building, planning of activity clusters, infrastructure build up, technology,

K. Sivaramakrishnan, Poverty All Eviction through Self-Help Groups, TNJC, March

Concepts and Review of Literature

V. Jerinabi, A Study on Micro Credit Management by Women Self Help Groups,