Self Help Groups need support services: NABARD Chief

Ahmedabad, Dec 31 (UNI) Emphasis should be given on providing support services to make Self Help Group (SHG) more cost effective and profitable to members, according to National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) Chief General Manager B S Shekhawat.

He said this while addressing a state level meet of Micro Finance, Non-Government Institutions and SHG federations, organised by NABARD.

Appreciating the role played by the SHG Federations in the state, Mr Shekhawat said the direct linkage between SHG and Banks should be encouraged.

He informed that the SHG-Bank Linkage programme started by NABARD way back in 1992-93, has made significant progress throughout the country and a large number of SHGs have been formed covering every part of the country.

The experience shows that such SHGs tend to form their own federations which often take over the responsibilities of hand holding and other support hitherto provided by the NGOs, he added.

NABARD officials asserted the need for a long term partnership for strengthening SHG movement in Gujarat in order to reach the unreached poor.

NABARD officials explained the participants, various models of federations operating in different parts of the country -- Myrada Model in Karnataka, Indira Kranti Patham Model in Andra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu's women's development corporation model, Dhan foundation model and Orissa government Model.

The meet was attended by agencies like SEWA, Viksat, Kutch Mahila Vikas Sanghathan, Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, CSE, Mahiti, Uthan, Icecd, Baif-Dhruva and Griserve, who gave the details of the composition and working of the SHG federations in Gujarat.

UNI