One of the major activities of Disha, micro-savings and credit has led to formation of 1,428 self-help groups (SHGs) in the operational area. The origin of the activity lies in the demand of highly motivated women of the operational area in the mid-1990s to give them some economic options so their lot can improve. Disha experimented with certain conventional economic activities, but they fell flat, because they were based on the top-down approach. Around the same time concept of SHGs was taking roots in the country and Disha decided in 1995 to experiment with the formation of 60 SHGs in as many villages of the then operational area. Initially the going was tough because women were suspicious of financial transaction with any outsider as at that time non-banking financial institutions had duped investors of millions of rupees. But once a few SHGs were formed and started giving financial scope to the women, the caravan started moving. Soon SHGs of men, farmers and non-farmers also came up.  

The combined membership of SHGs is over 15,911; the average size of a SHG being 11.14 with the number of members varying from 10 to 20. Average per SHG saving is Rs 6,576 leading to total savings to the tune of Rs 9.39 million. The group members are using group savings for inter-loaning among themselves, primarily to meet their consumption requirements and meeting out unexpected expenses. About 10 per cent of groups have been sanctioned credit by banks and these SHGs are engaged in income generation activities. 

Of late the government has recognised potential of SHGs in economic betterment of the deprived sections of the society. It has linked SHGs to its various welfare/ development schemes and taken policy decision that benefits of the government schemes would accrue only to the SHGs and not individuals. Thus SHGs are being looked as the ultimate mean of empowerment.  

Much attention is given capacity building of SHGs. For this training of SHG office-bearers in minutes writing and accounts keeping is organised from time to time. Since many SHG members are not literate enough they are unable to derive benefit of these training. In these circumstances they have adopted innovative approaches like using services of some of the educated girl for written work related to SHGs. 

Besides training Disha provides support to SHGs in according to their requirement for it understands that each SHG is different from other and tailor made training cannot address to the needs of each SHG. To name a few, these supports include giving inputs on holding meetings, opening of accounts in banks, getting advance limits sanctioned and providing skills in income generation activities. Disha makes efforts to ensure that SHGs are not just a forum of transaction of money. It views SHGs as a vehicle leading to not only economic empowerment, but also to social and political empowerment, whose attainment is Disha’s vision.

Now efforts have started to organise SHGs into associations. Each association is to have 20 SHGs as its members. At a later stage an overarching federation of associations of SHGs will also be formed. Once this structure is in place, it is expected that the associations and federation will be a force to bargain from the society and the market its due place.

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