An Overview of Sustainable Development through Micro Finance: A Study of Self Help Group – Bank Linkage Program in Central Region of India.

Micro finance is playing an important role in India for socio-economic development of those citizens who are economically and socially backward. Micro – finance have become a vital tool for promoting financial inclusion in the country. In India, as per 2011-12 censuses, 21.9% population was below poverty line. Self Help Group – Bank Linkage Program has been continuously working since its inception for alleviating poverty in the country. Self Help Group- Bank Linkage Program was started as a pilot project by National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) in the year 1992. NABARD was established in the country in the year 1982 and since its establishment, it has been continuously working in analyzing most suitable financial policies, loan disbursement methods and other allied services for promoting financial inclusion in the country. The program had been proved an important channel for smooth operation of micro-finance in the country and a yard stick for measuring growth and development of socio- economic conditions of deprived and poor people. As a pilot project, NABARD aimed to finance 500 Self Help Groups in February 1992. It has shown a tremendous growth and reached to landmark increment in number of Self Help Groups which were 55.77 lakhs as on 31-03- 2020. The present study aims to find out the growth of micro finance through SHG- Bank Linkage Program by National Bank for Rural Development in Central Region of India during a decade period ending financial year 2020. The study would analyze the Savings of SHGs’ with Banks, Bank Loans disbursed to SHG’s and Bank Loan outstanding against SHGs’ during above mentioned period.