What is a Self-Help Group (SHG)?
A Self-Help Group (SHG) is a grassroots-level, informal organization comprising 10 to 20 members who come together to pool their resources, save money, and engage in income-generating activities. SHGs aim to empower individuals, especially women, in rural communities.
What is the significance of SHGs in India?
SHGs have played a significant role in poverty reduction and women's empowerment in India. They promote financial inclusion, social awareness, and community development. The SHG movement gained prominence in the 1980s and has since evolved.
What is the purpose of registering SHG federations as cooperatives?
Registering SHG federations as cooperatives provides them with legal status and collective bargaining power. This legal recognition allows them to negotiate, access institutional support, and govern their operations effectively.
How does Swabhiman Jeevika Mahila Swavlambi Sahkari Samiti Ltd. benefit from being a cooperative?
Swabhiman Jeevika Mahila Swavlambi Sahkari Samiti Ltd. benefits from legal status, collective bargaining power, and the ability to access resources and institutional support. This enables them to offer various services, create job opportunities, and promote rural development.
What are some of the job opportunities created by Swabhiman and similar CLF cooperatives?
Swabhiman and CLF cooperatives create job opportunities in various sectors, including credit professionals, stitching experts, agricultural machinery technicians, agricultural trainers, vets, fisheries, poultry, farm input supply, output aggregation, and management roles.
How can other cooperatives and self-help organizations follow the model of Swabhiman Jeevika Mahila Swavlambi Sahkari Samiti Ltd.?
To follow Swabhiman's model, cooperatives should consider factors like legal frameworks, institutional support, economic opportunities, social inclusion, and access to experts. They should aim to enhance collaboration, voice, and sustainable development for their members and communities.
What is the status of the SHG-Bank Linkage Programme in India?
As of the Economic Survey of India Report 2022-23, the SHG-Bank Linkage Programme consists of 142 million households working through 11.9 million SHGs. These households have significant savings deposits and outstanding collateral-free loans, with high repayment rates.
What is the current focus of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) in India?
The current focus of NRLM is on up-scaling and institutionalizing SHGs into Cluster Level Federations (CLFs). This aims to create sustainable livelihood opportunities, boost financial inclusion, and promote social empowerment.
