A Geographical Study of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in Solapur District

The present paper has been attempted to study, ‘A Geographical Study of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in Solapur District’. In a self-help group, people come voluntarily together to save the amount which they can save in a suitable manner out of their earnings, to mutually agree for the contribution to a common fund and lend to the members for meeting their dynamic and emergent needs. SHG generally provides help to the smaller section of society. The performance of the self-help group programme in the area of rural development and women’s empowerment has been excellent. Self Help Groups (SHGs) Members may also make small regular savings contributions over a few months until there is sufficient money in the group to begin lending. Funds may then be lent back to the members or to others in the village for any purpose. In India, many SHGs are linked with banks for the delivery of micro-credit. In the recent years   microfinance became an important intervention as a tool for rural development and poverty alleviation. In India, many a number of microfinance institutions including Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Government agencies had intensively intervened. In   the  recent   years   microfinance  became   an  important   intervention   as  a   tool   for  rural development and poverty  alleviation. In India, many a number of microfinance institutions including Non-Governmental Organizations  (NGOs), NBFIs and Government  agencies had intensively intervened In India, usually self-help groups are women-oriented and most of their activities are concentrated towards savings and credit activities apart from other activities focusing on women's empowerment, health and educational attainment, etc. There is a common perception in development literature that increased participation of women in savings and credit activities or economic attainment will empower women. Thus, self-help groups are seen as an important tool for empowering women. There is also the perception that economic attainment will empower women's status in family and in the community, giving them more power to participate indecision-making process Self Help Group (SHGs) are formed with the aim of helping their members. Self Help Group (SHGs) are often a voluntary association of individuals who come together with the purpose to work together and to encourage their economic interest. These group works on the principle of self-help as well as mutual help. The primary goal of Self Help Groups (SHGs) is to provide support to the members.