Nabard Empower the Women Empower the Nation

Key Concepts:

• Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
• SHG Bank Linkage Program
• Financial Inclusion
• Anchor NGOs
• Backward and Left-Wing Extremism Affected Districts
• Micro Enterprise Development Program (MEDP)
• Livelihood and Enterprise Development Program (LEDP)
• Credit Linkage
• Market Linkage
• Resource Institutions
• Joint Liability Groups (JLGs)
• Organic Farming
• On-Farm and Off-Farm Sector Activities
• Gram Dukan

1. Introduction: Women Empowerment and SHGs

• Women are recognized as resourceful and crucial pillars of society, particularly in rural India.
• NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) initiated the SHG Bank Linkage Program in 1992, demonstrating the bankability of women and promoting financial inclusion.
• The SHG Bank Linkage Program has become a viable model for financial inclusion of poor households, especially in rural areas.

2. The Role of Anchor NGOs

• Experiences in resource-poor regions highlighted the need for support organizations to guide and nurture SHG members.
• The Government of India formulated a scheme for promoting women SHGs in backward and left-wing extremism affected districts, implemented by NABARD.
• Anchor NGOs are involved in 150 such districts, serving as SHG promoting institutions, banking and business facilitators, and responsible for loan repayments.
• Bankers were unable to give undivided attention in monitoring the groups due to their increasing number.

3. Case Study: Tamil Nadu SHG Project

• The women self-help group project in Tamil Nadu is implemented in Nagapattinam and Kanyakumari districts.
• NAMCO NGO in Nagapattinam and The Mallard NGO in Kanyakumari are implementing the schemes.
• Nearly 2000 SHGs have been formed, and 800 have been credit-linked in these districts.
• Apart from credit linkage, NGOs offer self-employment training programs supported by NABARD under MEDP and LEDP.

4. Training Programs (MEDP and LEDP)

• NABARD supports entrepreneurship training through MEDP and LEDP.
• These programs provide skill training to SHGs to support production.
• SHGs are supported in setting up common services centers to market their produce through Gram Dukan.
• Training is conducted for both on-farm and off-farm sector activities.

5. Support and Linkages

• After training, groups receive assistance for credit linkage, market linkage, and linkage with resource institutions.
• Some groups are involved in milk procurement and value addition of rice and pulses, major produce of the district.

6. Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) and Organic Farming

• SHGs have formed Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) from LEDP and MEDP trainees who have started livelihood activities for quicker credit.
• Organic farming is gaining momentum, with groups facilitating it.

7. Non-Farm Sector Activities

• Various groups are engaged in non-farm sector activities, providing employment to the rural population.

8. Women's Transformation and NABARD's Vision

• Women are known for their caring nature and nurturing tendency.
• When they set their mind, they can evolve and work towards the betterment of themselves as well as the society.
• Women's SHGs emerge slowly and steadily, and their collective action, along with training and guidance, can help them emerge as butterflies from cocoons.
• NABARD is proud to see its WSHGs spread their wings with herbs to touch the sky.
• WSHG will ride, they will fly, chase the wind and touch the sky.

9. Technical Terms Explained:

• Self-Help Group (SHG): A self-governed, peer-controlled, informal group of people with similar socio-economic backgrounds who voluntarily come together to save small amounts regularly, mutually agree to contribute to a common fund, and use it to meet their emergency needs on a mutual help basis.
• SHG Bank Linkage Program: A program initiated by NABARD to link SHGs with banks for credit and financial services.
• Anchor NGOs: Non-governmental organizations that act as facilitators and support systems for SHGs, providing training, guidance, and linkage to financial institutions.
• MEDP (Micro Enterprise Development Program): A training program focused on developing micro-enterprises.
• LEDP (Livelihood and Enterprise Development Program): A training program focused on enhancing livelihoods and enterprises.
• Joint Liability Group (JLG): An informal group of individuals who jointly guarantee each other's loans.
• Gram Dukan: A rural marketing outlet or shop.

10. Synthesis/Conclusion:

The video highlights NABARD's efforts in empowering women through SHGs, particularly in backward and left-wing extremism affected districts. The SHG Bank Linkage Program, supported by anchor NGOs and training programs like MEDP and LEDP, facilitates financial inclusion, skill development, and market access for women. The success stories from Tamil Nadu demonstrate the transformative potential of these initiatives, enabling women to engage in diverse economic activities, from agriculture to non-farm sectors, and improve their livelihoods. The emphasis on credit linkage, market linkage, and support from resource institutions is crucial for the sustainability and growth of these women-led enterprises.