Impact of SGSY Scheme on Self Help Group Members of West Bengal

Abstract

This paper shows that the government supported micro-credit programme under joint liability in Swarna-Jayanti Gram Swarozgari Yojana Scheme in India is able to reach to the ultra poor and vulnerable section of the rural population of West Bengal where most of the participants are rural married women. This scheme is helping them to reduce their acuteness of poverty but still fails to reduce their vulnerability. It is also helping the participants to improve their empowerment. The group leaders do not take any undue advantage from their respective groups to improve their economic conditions more quickly than other fellow ordinary members.

Keywords: Micro-Credit, Group Lending, Self-Help Group, Poverty, Vulnerability, Empowerment

JEL Classification: G21, I28, I30, J16