Self-help groups bank linkage programme: The Indian experience Dr. Vadde Suresh, Associate Professor Department of Accounting & Finance, College of Business & Economics, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia Online published on 10 February, 2012. Abstract Microfinance is the provision of financial services to low-income clients or solidarity lending groups including consumers and the self-employed, who traditionally lack access to banking and related services. More broadly, it is a movement whose object is “a world in which as many poor and near-poor households as possible have permanent access to an appropriate range of high quality financial services, including not just credit but also savings, insurance, and fund transfers”. Those who promote microfinance generally believe that such access will help poor people out of poverty. Since 2006–07, NABARD has been compiling and analyzing the data on progress made in microfinance sector, based on the returns furnished by Commercial Banks (CBs), Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and Cooperative Banks operating in the country. The bank operating, presently, in the formal financial system comprises Public Sector CBs (27), Private Sector CBs (22), RRBs (82), State Cooperative Banks (31) and District Central Cooperative Banks (370). Most of the banks participating in the process of microfinance have reported the progress made under the programme. The present study is an attempt to analyze the role and performance of SHGs in promoting women's empowerment in India. The broad objective of the study is to analyses the operating system of SHGs for mobilization of saving, delivery of credit to the needy, management of group funds, repayment of loans, in building up leadership, establishing linkage with banks and examines the social benefits derived by the members. Top Keywords Microfinance, self-help groups, financial services, banking, leadership. Top |