Archive · 26 Oct 2025
Empowering Women through Self-Help Groups in Rural Development
In India, rural development aims to help people in the countryside improve their lives.
Women are key to this, especially through groups called Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
These groups help women save money, get loans, and start businesses.
The government supports these groups with programs like the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM).
Millions of women are part of SHGs, and they've borrowed a lot of money to start businesses, with high repayment rates.
SHGs help women become more independent, and successful women in turn help their communities grow and become more successful.
Rural development prioritizes economic growth and quality of life in rural areas.
Women's participation is crucial for rural development, impacting social and economic progress.
Self-Help Groups (SHGs) empower women through community action and financial support.
The SHG Bank Linkage Project (SHG-BLP) is the world's largest microfinance project.
Recent data shows a significant increase in credit disbursed to women’s SHGs with high repayment rates.
- Who
- Rural women in India
- What
- Empowerment through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for rural development
- When
- Since 1952, with significant progress after 1992
- Where
- Rural areas of India
- Why
- To improve livelihoods, promote economic growth, and ensure social progress
- SHG-BLP Coverage
- 14.2 crore families as of March 2022
- Women in SHGs
- Approximately 100 million members in nearly 9 million SHGs
- All-Women SHGs
- 88% of 1.2 crore SHGs
- SHG Savings and Loans
- Rs 47,240.5 crore in savings and Rs 1,51,051.3 crore in collateral-free loans (as of March 31, 2020)
- Cumulative Credit Disbursed
- Rs 11 lakh crore to women’s SHGs (as of July 2025)
- Repayment Rate
- Over 98%