Question : QUESTION NUMBER OF SHGS

(a) the total number of accredited micro financing Self Help Groups (SHGs) including those being run by women/ Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled tribe (ST)/ Other Backward Classes(OBCs) functioning in the country as on March, 2012, State-wise;

(b) whether the Government has any plan/proposal to engage these groups for expansion of their micro financing activities in remote rural areas of the country;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d)whether the Government proposes to provide financial assistance to these groups (especially women groups) for operating their micro financing activities in rural areas; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI NAMO NARAIN MEENA)

(a): NABARD has reported that as on 31.03.2012, 79.60 lakh SHGs were savings linked and 43.54 lakh SHGs were credit linked with various Banks across the country. The state-wise number of savings linked and credit linked SHGs as on 31 March 2012 are given in Annex.

(b) to (e): A scheme for promotion and financing of Women Self Help Groups (WSHG) in association with Government of India is being implemented by NABARD across 150 backward and Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts of the country. The scheme aims at saturating the districts with viable and self sustainable WSHGs by involving anchor NGOs/support agencies who shall promote and facilitate credit linkage of these groups with banks, provide continuous handholding support, enable their journey for livelihoods and also take responsibility for loan repayments. NABARD provides grant support @Rs. 10,000/- per SHG to these NGOs and also bear the cost of training and other capacity building initiatives.