38

CHAPTER 2

THE SHG-BANK LINKAGE PROGRAMME

2.1 Introduction

NABARD with its head quarters at Mumbai is an Apex Development

Bank in India for financing and promoting agriculture, small scale

industries, cottage and village industries, handicrafts and other rural

crafts so as to promote integrated rural development. In wake of banking

sector reforms invoked in early 1990’s the role of commercial banks in

providing credit to rural poor came under intensive debate vis-à-vis the

sustainability of entire banking operation for providing banking

services- both in terms of savings and credit to the rural poor. Sheokand

(1998) has indicated that as the rural poor’s share in availing formal

sector credit got further marginalized, NABARD, in 1992 launched the

SHG-Bank Linkage Programme with the policy backup of the Reserve

Bank of India.

As per NABARD report (1995) the scheme on SHG’s was made

applicable to RRB’s and co-operative banks of the country in 1993 and

39

in April 1996, RBI advised the banks that lending to SHG’s should be

considered as an additional segment under priority sector advances and

it be integrated with mainstream normal credit operation.

2.2 Understanding Self Help Groups (SHGs)

The Self Help Group has been defined by NABARD as a group of about

20 people from a homogeneous class who come together for addressing

their common problems. They are encouraged to make voluntary thrift on

a regular basis. They use their pool resources to make small interest

bearing loans to their members. The process helps them imbibe the

prioritization of needs, setting terms and conditions and accounts

keeping. This gradually builds financial discipline in all of them. They

also learn to handle resources of a size that is much beyond individual

capacities of any of them. The bank loans are given without any collateral

and at market interest rates. The groups continue to decide the terms of

loans to their own members. Since the groups own accumulated savings

are part and parcel of the aggregate loans made by the groups to their

members, peer pressure ensures timely repayments (NABARD, 2001-02).

According to Singh (1995), SHG’s are voluntary associations of people

formed to collectively perform certain activities of their common interest.

40

Gregory and Marry (1994) have defined SHG’s as being cost free,

member governed, peer led group made up of people, who share the

problems or situations. Gupta (1996) has described SHG’s as the

voluntary response in the form of informal groups, of poor, to their

marginalization social, economic and political.

The groups have been recommended to be informal to keep them away

from bureaucracy and corruption, unnecessary administrative expenditure

and profit constraints. The size of 20 has been made mandatory because

any group larger than this would need to be registered under the Indian

legal system. These groups are expected to foster true (direct) democratic

culture where all the members participate actively by taking part in the

debate and decision-making process which is possible only in small

groups. Otherwise when the groups become bigger direct democracy

tends towards indirect democracy-a coterie of decision-making and

formation of vested interest within the group. Groups are expected to be

homogeneous so that the members do not have conflicting interest and all

the members can participate freely without any fear and adverse

consequence. When financial transaction starts, there is no subsidy if the

groups are identical (Stiglitz, 1990). The repayment rate to be lower in

large groups (Mosley and Dahal, 1985; Owusu and Tetteh, 1982).

41

The SHGs are generally formed through the intervention of a facilitating

agency. Basically, SHGs are being promoted as a part of the microfinance

interventions aimed at helping the poor to obtain easily financial services

like saving, credit and insurance, SHGs may be constituted internally

both for credit and savings purposes (Shylendra, 1999).

Some of the common characteristics of functioning of the SHGs are as

follows:

1. The SHGs members meet at fixed interval, generally weekly,

fortnightly or monthly and collect their savings of a predetermined

amount at these meetings.

2. The groups usually create a common fund by contributing their

small savings on a regular basis.

3. The pooled savings are then use to make small interest bearing

loans among themselves. The members who borrow the money

have to return the same in weekly, fortnightly or monthly

installments at predetermined rates of interest. The group is solely

responsible for determining its periodical savings rate, internal

leading policy as well as interest rates. During this period, the

group is encouraged by the facilitator to open a savings bank

account within a bank. If the group transactions go smoothly for a

42

period of six months or more, it is a signal that the group has

matured. If after that stage the group is in need of money the group

then approaches the bank where it had opened the savings account.

If the bank is satisfied with the group in terms of : (i) genuineness

of demand for credit, (ii) credit handling capacity of the members,

(iii) repayment behaviour within the group, and (iv) the accounting

system and maintenance of the records, it extends a term loan of

small amount to the group. At this stage the group is said to be

credit linked to the bank.

4. The process of linkage of the SHG with a bank begins when the

bank open its savings bank account. The bank lends to the SHG,

which in turn, gives loans to its members in accordance with the

group’s policy. The loan is granted in the name of the SHG and all

members of the group are collectively responsible for the repayment

to the bank. These loans have no collateral security as group

cohesion and peer pressure act as security for the bank loan. This

joint liability however provides incentives or compels the group to

undertake the burden of selection, monitoring and enforcement that

sealed otherwise fall on the lender (Hoff and Stiglitz, 1990).

43

The implicit objective of SHGs is to combat unjust social relationship by

increasing people’s participation through their empowerment. The

emphasis is also on human resource development. The SHGs are

generally of small size. Such SHGs not only ensure active participation,

but also promote group dynamics in decision-making and greater

transparency. Moreover, separate SHGs for men and women are more

conductive for addressing the issues of gender imbalances. Also SHGs

frame their own rules and regulations to suit their local conditions.

The SHGs are classified into five categories as follows:

Model I: SHGs formed and financed by banks.

Model II: SHGs formed by NGOs and formal agencies but

directly financed by banks.

Model III: SHGs financed by banks using NGOs financial

intermediaries.

Model IV: NGO guided but self-supported SHGs.

Model V: Completely self- supported SHGs.

2.3 SHG-Bank Linkage Programme--Conceptual frames

The SHG-Bank Linkage Programme initiated by NABARAD, in active

collaboration with NGOs, aimed at enhancing the coverage of rural poor

44

under institutional credit thereby focusing on poverty alleviation and

empowerment (Shanmugam, 1998). The linking of SHGs with banks

aims at using the intermediation of the SHGs between the banks and the

rural poor for cutting down the transaction costs for both banks and their

rural clients.

The objectives of SHG-Bank Linkage Programme are:-

1.To evolve supplementary credit strategy for meeting the needs of the

poor by combining the flexibility, sensitivity and responsiveness of

the informal credit system with the technical / administrative

capacity and financial resources of formal financial institutions.

2. To build mutual trust and confidence between bankers and the

rural poor.

3. To encourage banking activity in both the thrift and credit aspects

in a segment of the population that formal financial institutions

usually find difficult to reach.

The SHG-Bank Linkage Programme is unique in some respects.

RB1 and NABARD have tried to promote ‘relationship banking’

i.e. improving the existing relationship between the poor and

bankers with the social intermediation by NGOs. The Indian bank

45

linkage model is predominantly a ‘Linkage Model’ which draws

upon strengths of various partners- NGOs (who are best in

mobilizing the poor and building their capacities) and Bankers

(whose strength is financing).

Broadly, three different models have emerged under the linkage

programme in the country. The linkage between the SHGs and the Formal

Financial Agencies (FFAs) has to be on symbolic relationship. For the

purpose of linking the SHGs to FFAs two basic models with number of

modification are at present working in India. In each model there exists a

two way flow of funds as shown below.

i. Direct linkage model (Model- I)

In case of the direct linkage model the bank identifies the group (or

facilitates evaluation of the group) and deals with the SHG directly for

both mobilizing savings and for making available credit to as a whole or

to individual members. Group members act as collateral security. In this

model the credit is generally made available to the group and members to

be financed are identified by the group itself which takes the

responsibility of loan repayment (Chart-1).

46

(Chart-1)

Savings SHG Savings Bank

Credit at rates Credit @ 12% p.a.

Directed by SHG

ii. Modified Direct Linkage Model- I

Here the activity and member to whom loan is loan is given is identified

by group. The group is morally responsible for repayment but credit is

given as any individual loan (Chart-2).

Chart-2

Savings SHG Savings Bank

Credit a normal rates prevailing Depending on quantum of loan.

Members SHG Bank

Bank SHG Members

47

iii. Modified Direct Linkage Model II

In this model NGO is not the financial intermediary. The NGO’s role is

only in group evolution and stabilization, where as the financial linkage is

directly with the group (Chart-3).

Chart-3

Savings Savings

Credit Credit

NGO

iv. IFAD Model

In this model, the NGO is involved as in (iii) above but the line

departments of Government like Women Development Corporations,

Sericulture, Rural Development are involved in identification of activity,

beneficiary etc. The model is in existence in areas where IFAD projects

are being implemented like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh

(Chart-4)

Members SHG Bank

NGO

48

Chart-4

Savings Savings

Credit

V. Indirect Linkage Models

In this model basically the funds flow through the NGO i.e. the NGO is

the financial intermediary. In case of this linkage model various types

exist which have been given in Chart-5.

Chart-5

Savings Savings

Credit @ as Credit @ 12% p.a.

Directed by SHG Credit @ rates directed by NGO OR 12% p.a.

Bank SHG Members

Govt. Line

Department

Members

SHG NGO Bank

NGO

49

Vi. Modified Indirect Model

This model exists in case where the groups are artisans/handicraft and

NGO support for marketing is also available like SEWA, Lucknow

(Chart-6).

Chart-6

Savings Savings

Raw material for

Job work

The three broad models of linking of SHGs can be summarized in the

following way-

1. Direct Linkage Model (Model –I)

2. Direct Linkage Model (Model- II)

3. Indirect Linkage Model (Model –III)

Members

NGO

Bank SHG

NGO

C

R

E

D

I

t

C

R

E

D

I

T

50

Model-I Bank – SHG- Members.

In this Model, the bank itself acts as a Self Help Promoting

Institution (SHPI) and finance the SHGs directly.

Model-II Bank – Facilitator Agency-SHG- Members

In this Model, NGO or Government agencies promote and

nurture SHGs while the banks provide the credit support.

Model-III Bank–NGO-Micro-Financial Intermediaries-SHG members.

In this Model, NGOs both promote and finance SHGs using

funds borrowed from outside agencies.

Thus, as compared to other countries, where “parallel” model of

lending to poor (i.e. NGOs acting as financial intermediaries) is

predominant, the Indian linking banking tries to use the existing

formal financial network to increase the outreach to the poor while

ensuring necessary flexibility of operations for both the bankers and

the poor.

51

2.4 Coverage of the programme in India

NABARD initiated a study of about 50 NGOs in the late 1980s which

led to uncovering of certain striking field level realities such as--

• The poor need small and frequent credit at unpredictable times

• The directed credit was costly credit

• The transaction costs for banks and the clients were high

• In the government sponsored programme, people’s initiatives and

voluntary participation was lacking or absent

• Need for transparent and cost-effective credit delivery system

• Need for social specific approaches

In this scenario, the introduction of pilot phase of the SHG-Bank Linkage

Programme could be considered as a landmark development in the banking

with the poor. In terms of RBI circular letter DBOD. No. BC.

63/13.0.89/92-93 dated 4 Jan. 1993, banks were allowed to open savings

bank accounts of SHGs financed under pilot project. Banks insists that the

savings have to be deposited in bank account so that the loan limit can be

decided by bank. As per operational guidelines of NABARD, SHGs are

sanctioned savings linked loans by the banks (varying from a saving to

loan ratio of 1:1 to 1:4). The flexibility allowed to the banks in respect of

52

margin, security norms etc. under the pilot project vide RBI circular will

continue to be operational under the linkage programme even beyond the

pilot phase. NABARD would continue to provide refinance support to the

banks under the linkage project. The interest rate stipulated by NABARD

(1991) at different levels under the programme is as under:

NABARD to Banks (Refinance)-6.5% p.a.

Banks to SHG -12.0% p.a.

Banks to NGOs/VAs -10.5% p.a.

NGOs/VAs to SHGs - 12.0% p.a.

SHG to Members -As decided by SHG

Banks may charge interest on the finance provided to the Groups/NGOs

for on-lending to SHGs at the rates indicated by the National Bank from

time to time. Further, the Groups will be free to decide on the interest rate

to be charge to its members provided the rate of interest is not excessive.

Starting with NABARD-led pilot project in 1992 that aimed at promoting

and financing 500 SHGs across the country, the SHG-Bank Linkage

strategy has come a long way. The progress under SHG-Bank Linkage

Programme in India over the year (during 1992-2008) is given below

53

(Table 2.1). In the initial period i.e. in 1992-93, just 255 SHGs were

linked to banks with Rs.2.89 million and 0.27 crore as refinance from

NABARD. In a span of one and half decade it expanded rapidly. As on 31

March 2004, a cumulative number of 10, 79,091 SHGs were credit linked

with the growth rate 50.91 per cent which way ahead of NABARD’s

corporate goal for credit linking 1 million SHGs by March 2007. In 2007-

08, a cumulative of 29, 24,973 million SHGs has been linked with the

banks with refinancing of Rs. 5459.00 crore.

54

Table 2.1: Progress under SHG-Bank Linkage Programme in

1992-2008

Year Cummulative

No. of SHGs

credit linked

Cummulative bank

loan (Rs. in million)

Re-finance by

NABARD (Rs. in

crore)

1992-93 255 2.89 0.27

1993-94 620 6.53 0.46

1994-95 2122 24.45 2.13

1995-96 4757 60.58 5.66

1996-97 8598 118.36 10.65

1997-98 14317 237.95 21.39

1998-99 32995 520.60 52.06

1999-00 94645 1928.70 150.13

2000-01 114775 1930.0 150.10

2001-02 263825 4808.70 400.70

2002-03 461478 10260.00 796.50

2003-04 717360 20490.00 1418.80

2004-05 1079091 39040.00 2124.20

2005-06 1618456 68984.60 3092.00

2006-07 2238565 1139754.43 4160.66

2007-08 2924973 180407.40 5459.00

Source: NABARD, 2007-08

Model-wise break-up of SHG-Bank Linkage Programme

So far models are concerned, a major chunk of the linkage is accounted

by Model II (74 per cent) followed by Model I (20 per cent) and Model

III (6 per cent) up to 2005-05(Table 2.2). Disbursement of loan under

55

deferent modals reveals that the share of Model-II (81 per cent) is

relatively high compared to Model I (14 per cent) and Model III (5 per

cent).

Table 2.2: Model-wise cumulative position up to 31 March 2006

Model

Number of SHGs

Credit liked

Bank loan(Rs. million)

Model I 449,438(20%) 16,367.15(14%)

Model II 1,646070 (74%) 92,000.65(81%)

Model III 143,051 (6%) 5,607.63(5%)

Total 2,238,565(100%) 113,975.43(100%)

Source: NABARD, 2005-06.Figures in parentheses indicate percentages

of the total SHGs and bank loan.

SHG-Bank Linkage- Agency-wise participation

The programme at the grass root level has been executed through a

network of Commercial Banks (CBs), Regional Rural Banks (RRBs),

District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCCBs), and Primary Agricultural

Credit Societies (PACS). A review of the SHG credit linkages by these

banks upto 31 March 2006 indicates that Commercial Banks has

established the maximum linkages (53 per cent). The RRBs has a sizable

56

coverage (33 per cent) but the performance of Cooperatives in the

programme is minimal (14 per cent) (Table 2.3). Similarly CBs have

registered highest disbursement of amount of loan (61 %) compared to

RRBs (29%) and Co-operative Banks (10%).

Table 2.3: SHG-Bank Linkage-Agency-wise Cumulative

participation upto March 2006

Banks No. of SHGs Bank loan (Rs. in millions)

Commercial

Banks

11, 88,040(53%)

69,874.49(61%)

RRBs 740,024(33%) 33,221.47(29%)

Cooperatives 310,501(14%) 10,879.47(10%)

Total 2,238,565(100%) 113,975.43(100%)

Source: NABARD 2005-06. Figures in parentheses indicate

percentages of the total SHGs and bank loan.

Regional spread of credit linked SHGs

So far as spatial outreach of the SHG bank linkage is concerned the

programme has covered 583 districts in 31 States/UTs (as on 2005-06).

The region-wise SHG Bank Linkage data shows that the programme is

skewed in favour of the Southern Region. This region accounts for 54.3

57

per cent of total SHGs formed, while the North-East Region constitutes

only 2.8 per cent of the total programme (Table 2.4).

Table 2.4: Regional spread of Credit Linked SHGs

Region 2005-06

SHGs Credit linked to

banks

Percent to total

Northern 133057 5.9

North Eastern 62517 2.8

Eastern 394351 17.6

Central 267915 12.0

Western 166254 7.4

Southern 1214431 54.3

Total 2238525 100

Source: NABARD, Annual Report 2005-06.

NABARD has been playing the role of propagator and facilitator by

providing a conductive policy environment, training and capacity-

building besides extending financial support for the healthy growth of the

SHG-Bank Linkage Programme in the country.

58

Over the years, various promotional steps taken are enumerated as under

• Conceptualization and introduction of pilot programme in

February 1992 for linking 500 SHGs with banks after

consultations with Reserve Bank of India, banks and NGOs.

• Introduction of Bulk Lending Scheme in 1993 for encouraging

the NGOs which were keen to try group lending approach and

other financial services’ delivery innovations in the rural areas.

• Developing a conductive policy framework through provision

of opening savings bank accounts in the names of SHGs

(though they are informal groups), relaxation of collateral

norms, simple documentation and delegation of all credit

decisions and repayment terms to SHGs.

• Training and awareness building among the stakeholders.

• Provision of capacity-building support of NGOs/SHGs/banks.

• Mainstreaming the SHG-Bank Linkage Programme as part of

corporate planning and normal business activity of banks in

1996 and internalizing training, monitoring and review

mechanism.

• Encouraging banks (RRBs and Cooperative Banks) for

promotion of SHGs.

• Financial support to NGOs for promotion of SHGs.

59

• Encouraging rural individual volunteers in promotion and

nurturing of SHGs.

• Close monitoring.

• Dissemination through seminars, workshops, occasional papers

and print media.

• Constitution of a high powered task force to look into the

aspects of policy and regulation of microfinance and suggest

policy, legal, regulatory measures for smooth, unhindered

growth of the microfinance sector.

• Setting up a Microfinance development fund in NABARD for

meeting the promotional costs of up scaling the microfinance

interventions. The fund has since been re-designated as

Micro-Finance Development and Equity Fund (MFDEF).

• Initiating the credit rating of MFIs through accredited credit

rating agencies in India by meeting 75 per cent of the cost of

the rating as grant. This is done to enable the MFIs to approach

banks for commercial borrowing and extending microcredit to

the poor.

60

Strategies for upscaling the SHG-Bank Linkage Programme

• NABARD’s (2009) strategy includes launching special campaign

to set up a large number of SHGs in States where the spread is low

and also to work out strategies for promotion of micro enterprises

among SHG members. NABARD (2009) contemplates to cover

1/3rd

of the identified rural poor families in 13 priority States

including Assam under the SHG-Bank Linkage Programme by

March 2007. The real challenge is to upgrade the SHG-Bank

Linkage Programme and ensure that credit facilities through SHGs

are made available for people in rural areas;

• Involvement of more number of Resource/Prominent;

• Providing technical support to the State Governments for

organizing exposure and awareness programmes to help field

level functionaries to internalize the concept;

• Effective training inputs on book keeping and group dynamics

for SHG member to ensure sustainability ;

• Support access to market information and outlets, participation in

exhibition;

• Conduct of bank specific training programs to be organized for

commercial banks to expand their outreach;

61

• Explore possibilities to provide financial support to reputed

MFIs for on lending to SHG, etc.

The micro finance initiative by NABARD which began in 1992 with the

formation of 500 SHGs and now cover 58 million rural poor households

has emerged as the largest micro finance programme in the world. The

notable features of the programme are the active participation of women

(90 per cent) and timely loan repayment (about 95 per cent). About 58

million poor rural households have gained access to the formal banking

system through the programme.

2.5 SHG-Bank Linkage Programme in Assam

Assam is known as an economically backward state where more than one

third of the population is still living bellow the poverty line and where

more than 21 lakhs people are unemployed. The 59th round of NSSO

clearly reports that almost 80% of the households in Assam were

indebted to the informal sector as compared to only 60% in the country as

a whole. For the upliftment of the poor people of Assam along with

various schemes for poverty alleviation and employment generation, the

SHG-Bank Linkage Programme has been implemented to provide cost

effective credit to the unreached poor people.

62

The SHG-Bank Linkage Programme has been operating in Assam since

1998-1999 but has gained momentum from the year 2001-2002. As on

date (up to March 2008), the programme is being implemented in all the

districts (27), through all the RRBs in the State, Commercial Banks,

Cooperatives, NGOs and VVV Clubs (Table 2.5). In the state one

Bank of RRBs is playing the role of Self-Help Promoting Institutions

(SHPIs).

NABARD has brought out a publication on some basic data on SHGs

(NABARD, 1999-2010). According to this, the number of SHGs credit

linked with banks has increased from 14 in 1999 to 114,778 in 2008 and

bank loans availed by these groups are Rs. 2.07 lakh and 29.600.03 lakh

respectively. The refinance assistance is reported to be Rs.0.15 lakh in

1999 and Rs. 4,588.72 lakh in 2008.

In Assam the SHG-Bank Linkage Programme at the grass root level has

been executing through a network of all the RRBs, Commercial Banks

and Co-operative Banks. The Commercial Banks and Regional Rural

Banks are regularly involved in SHG financing since 1999. The coverage

of Cooperatives in the programme at the initial stage was found to be

absent. By the year 1999 Commercial Banks and Regional Rural Banks

63

accounts for 64 per cent and 36 per cent respectively of the total SHGs

credit linked and in 2008 the percentage of SHGs credit linked by these

banks are 38 per cent and 49 per cent respectively.

In the state by the year 1999 only 2 NGOs were actively participated in

the programme. At present (up to Nov.2008), a total of 190 NGOs are

participating in the SHG linkage programme and 102 NGOs of the total

are observed to be instrumental for the formation and credit linkages of

SHGs. NABARD has extended grant assistance of Rs. 279.04 lakh to

these NGOs for promotion, credit linkage and capacity building of 11720

SHGs up to Nov. 2008.

64

Table 2.5: SHG-Bank Linkage Programme in Assam Highlight

SHG-Bank Linkage Programme

As on March

end,1999

(up to Nov.

2008)

Number of SHGs linked (cumulative) 14 1,14,778

Bank loan (cumulative) (Rs. lakh) 2.07 29,600.03

Cumulative refinance 0.15 4,588.72

Total Number of banks in the state

(i) Commercial Banks

(ii) RRB’s

(iii) Cooperative Banks

4

1

----

28

2

2

No. of banks acting as SHPIs ------- 1

Number of VVV Clubs ------- 14

Agency-wise linkage (cumulative)

(i) Commercial Banks

(ii) RRB’s

(iii) Cooperative Banks

9(64%)

5 (36%)

---

44129 (38 %)

56345 (49 %)

14304 (12 %)

Number of NGOs participating actively

in the programme

Amount of grants (Rs. lakh)

2

------

102

312.26

Source: NABARD and Microfinance. State Focus Paper 2009-10 Assam State.

65

Means for Expansion of SHG-Bank Linkage Programme in

Assam

Grant Assistance

NABARD has been extending grant assistance to NGOs in order to meet the

cost of promotion, capacity building, credit linkage and monitoring of the

SHGs. 102 NGOs in the State are sanctioned grant assistance for promotion

and linkage of SHGs.

RRBs as SHPIs Scheme

RRBs were provided grant assistance for promotion of SHGs and credit

linking them with their branches. The erstwhile RRBs viz. Pragjyotish

Gaolia Bank, Subansiri Gaolia Bank, Lakhimi Gaolia Bank ( now merged

as Assam Gramin Vikas Bank) were provided total grant assistance for

promotion and credit linkage of SHGs.

Farmers’ Clubs as SHPIs

The Farmers’ Club (FC) programme which adopted the five principles of

‘development through credit’ has now largely expanded in the coverage

of the activities by these clubs. A number of banks have enrolled the FCs

as business facilitators and are utilizing their services for loan application

66

process, recovery, etc., on payment of suitable compensation. The

services of these Farmers clubs could be utilized for promotion and

linkage of SHGs/JLGs.

Individual Rural Volunteers (IRVs) as SHPIs

In areas where NGO and Bank network is weak, a scheme for associating

IRVs in promotion and linkage of SHGs was in vogue in 13 priority States

including Assam. The main objective of the scheme is to promote and

linked at least 250 SHGs per District by involving about 25 socially

committed volunteers.

Revolving Fund Assistance (RFA)

As a promotional measure, NABARD is providing Revolving Fund

Assistance [RFA] on a selective basis to good working NGOs for on

lending to the SHGs. RFA has been sanctioned to two agencies in the

State namely Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Nidhi (RGVN) and Bosco Reach

Out [for Assam & Meghalaya].

Training Programmes

With a view to creating awareness on the conceptual as well as

operational aspects of SHG-Bank Linkage Programme, NABARD,

67

Assam Regional Offices has been conducting a series of

awareness/ exposure meets, training programmes, workshops, etc., at the

State / district levels, for bankers, NGOs SHGs, Govt. officials and other

stakeholders of the programme.

Reading materials/ Publicity

NABARD, Regional Office has developed necessary reading

materials/ brochures in English and the local language for use in the

training programme. Besides, brochures in Assamese, English and Hindi

have been brought out for wide publicity of the SHG- Bank Linkage

Programme.

Conclusion

The SHG-Bank Linkage Programme is being implemented in all the

districts of Assam through a network of RRBs, CBs and Co-operative

Banks. A number of NGOs are actively participating in SHG-Bank

Linkage Programme. Recently a number of Vikas Volunteer Vahini

Clubs are involved in organizing the rural into groups.