Micro Finance full paper Asia Pacific Journal of Rural Development Vol. XXVI, No. 2, December (original) (raw)

Self Help Groups (SHGs) are emerging as major agents of development and empowerment in the third world. In India, since the beginning of the ninth plan, most of the development programmes are channelled through SHGs. In all the parts of the country, the Self-help groups are organised by governmental and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to provide revolving fund, organisational base and training, credit etc. The role played by SHGs in the field of empowering women particularly in the rural areas is being recognised. The SHGs are characterised in empowerment of women through focusing attention on women below the poverty line to provide selfemployment by imparting training in different activities and improving the available local skills, improving the status of women in the family as well as in the society, creating better awareness in health, education and environment among rural people, thus promoting and ensuring human rights of women at all stages of their life. It offers not only economic opportunities but also a change to learn new skills, make wider social contacts and experience. Self Help Groups are playing significant role in poverty alleviation in rural India, especially in south Indian states. Participations in the SHGs have transformed their financial and social changes among the members in the study area. The findings showed that the impact of microfinance on Self Help Groups was huge and very supportive for every activity in relation with economic activities. The positive influence of SHGs includes increasing family income there by leading to, access to health services and credit facilities, decision making etc.