Volume : 7, Issue : 9, 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 :

<p class="KuppamN"><span lang="EN-GB">The Self-Help Group (SHG) &ndash; 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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span>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 .<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span>In this backdrop, the researcher set out to<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>ascertain how the SHG-Bank linkage programme could be optimised in the microfinance space in Bangalore rural district.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span>Towards this end, the researcher interacted with three categories of stakeholders associated with the programme, namely, bank officers, consultants and the women beneficiaries themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span>The researcher concluded that the beneficiaries were not being supported adequately on the marketing front.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span>Poor co-ordination between the government and the channelizing agencies led to this state of affairs.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span>Hence the researcher recommended that corporate players in particular and trade and industry in general be involved in this programme.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span>Incorporated businesses could be involved in the task since under the statute they had to shoulder corporate social responsibility (CSR).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span>Left to itself , the government would require very many years to achieve this.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span>But the linkage programme could achieve it in almost a cost-free and hassle-free manner.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span>By way of social transformation, the programme led the women beneficiaries to save for a rainy day.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span>It also led them to take the education of their children seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span>The children in due course would emerge as semi-skilled or skilled employees and help their families rise above the poverty line upon employment.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span></span></p>