OPTIMIZING PERFORMANCE THROUGH THE SELF-HELP GROUP-BANK LINKAGE PROGRAMME IN THE MICROFINANCE SPACE IN BANGALORE RURAL DISTRICT

SREE LAKSHMI.K; Dr.H.H.Ramesha

Volume : VII, Issue : IX, September - 2018

OPTIMIZING PERFORMANCE THROUGH THE SELF-HELP GROUP-BANK LINKAGE PROGRAMME IN THE MICROFINANCE SPACE IN BANGALORE RURAL DISTRICT

Sree Lakshmi. K, Dr. H. H. Ramesha

Abstract :

The Self-Help Group (SHG) – Bank Linkage programme has been striving to uplift the downtrodden segments of society economically -- in particular, such segments as reside in rural India. Out of the rural-based segments, the programme seeksto emancipate women who for centuries have been exploited for various reasons. Emancipation of women entails the social and political emancipation of women. In other words, women should be set free from legal, social and political restrictions . In this backdrop, the researcher set out to ascertain how the SHG-Bank linkage programme could be optimised in the microfinance space in Bangalore rural district. Towards this end, the researcher interacted with three categories of stakeholders associated with the programme, namely, bank officers, consultants and the women beneficiaries themselves. The researcher concluded that the beneficiaries were not being supported adequately on the marketing front. Poor co-ordination between the government and the channelizing agencies led to this state of affairs. Hence the researcher recommended that corporate players in particular and trade and industry in general be involved in this programme. Incorporated businesses could be involved in the task since under the statute they had to shoulder corporate social responsibility (CSR). The researcher was convinced that the programme could be used as an ideal class leveller, that oke through all class barriers and made all people equal. Left to itself , the government would require very many years to achieve this. But the linkage programme could achieve it in almost a cost-free and hassle-free manner. By way of social transformation, the programme led the women beneficiaries to save for a rainy day. It also led them to take the education of their children seriously. The children in due course would emerge as semi-skilled or skilled employees and help their families rise above the poverty line upon employment.