income generation pattern of self help group (shg) members

The fulcrum of any micro credit scheme is savings. The SHGs make it mandatory that savings are an inextricable part of their micro credit programme. Each SHG has a unique system of organizing and managing its own finance and operates as an independent unit. The SHG also provides a forum for social interaction, which serves as an alternate social structure for peer level interaction. With this background, the present study was conducted in Aundipatti, Periyakulam and Uthamapalayam blocks of Theni district of Tamil Nadu, covering 220 SHG women. The purpose was to obtain information on the participation of self-help group members in various income generating activities. All the members of SHGs and grass root level workers of NGOs were interviewed through a well-structured interview schedule. The various income generating activities are divided into Agricultural, agricultural allied and non-agricultural enterprises. The study revealed that, most (45.45%) of the SHG members had taken up paddy cultivation as their primary economic activity and less than half of the respondents had dairy (45.45%) as the major agricultural allied enterprise. The major group activities included napkin making (13.63) and curry leaf powder (11.36) preparation.