Role of Bihar Rural Livelihood Mission (BRLM) for Strengthening of Self Help Groups-A Case of Danapur Sub Division of Patna District
Author : Nidhi Agarawal
Abstract :
National rural livelihoods mission (NRLM) scheme was launched by the ministry of rural development government of India (GOI) in June 2011 through the investment support by the World Bank. It is a poverty alleviation programme which provide sustainable livelihood to rural poor. Self-Helf groups (SHGs) are small groups of poor people. SHGs of women are depend on the concept of small savings, mutual help and their support. In the present study we analyse the role of SHGs for development of microfinance and agriculture business. The study was based on both the primary and secondary data. Primary data are collected from 185 beneficiaries of SHGs through a semi-structured questionnaire from Bihta, Naubatpur and Danapur blocks of Patna district of Bihar by contacting SHGs formed under NRLM. The survey results reveal that the majority (33%) of the loans taken is related with the health, commercial activities (18.51%) and asset creation (17.77%). SHGs are helpful even for the other missions, especially Swachh Bharat Mission as under the heading of asset creation majority (62%) of loans was taken to build toilets. SHGs group under JEEVIKA is performing very well in providing a financial security net to the needy one, especially in the case of health; the loans are not being utilized for developing the skills of poor, helping the poor in developing livelihoods. As we can see that the loans taken for the business or commercial purposes appears in very late phases. One of the reason behind this can be the lack of confidence and training among the members who still find that they cannot successfully run a commercial enterprise i.e. lack of entrepreneurship in the women due to the traditions and customs.
Keywords :
Bihar rural livelihoods mission (BRLM), Self-Helf Groups (SHGs), Micro-finance, Women Empowerment, Poverty Alleviation.
