Abstract
This paper aimed to examine rural development through microfinance with special reference to self-help groups in the Nagapatanam district. For this investigation, primary data was collected from 500 respondents through a structured questionnaire. Nagapatanam district comprises eleven blocks, A Proportionate Stratified Random Sampling procedure was adapted to select sample self-help groups and member respondents from all the eleven blocks in Nagapatanam district. The present study has been undertaken to evaluate the performance of SHGs and their impact on the rural development of members in Nagapatanam District, Tamil Nadu. The study is based on empirical evidence gathered from the selected respondents to study the progress of SHGs in the Nagapatanam District. Further, attention has also been focused on evaluating the performance of sample SHGs and efforts have been made to examine how far SHGs help in the upliftment of rural development. Besides the impact of SHGs on entrepreneurial development, employment generation, earning capacity, and asset creation of rural areas were analyzed in the study.
Keywords: Self Help Groups, Rural Development, Microfinance.
References
- Alagh, Y.K, Indian Development Planning and Policy, Vikas Publishing Press, New Delhi, 1991.
- Aswathi Indira Rural Women of India – A Socio-economic Profile of Jummu Women, B.R. Publishing Corporation Delhi – 1982.
- Baig, Tara Ali India’s Women power, S.Chand & Company, New Delhi.
- Batra, S.L, Employment for Women, Har-Anand Publication, 1990.
- Desai, Neera Women in Modern India, Vora and Company, Bombay, 1974.
- Vijayakumari, M. Empowerment of Women and institutional credit, Sonali publications New Delhi.
- Hall, C.M. Women and Empowerment: strategies for Increasing Autonomy, Hemisphere Publishing Corporation Washington, 1992.
- Heredero, J.M.Rural development and social change, Manohar, Book Service, New Delhi 1971.