Factors Determining Women Self Help Group Members and their Patterns: A Field Experience in Rural Haryana

The paper analyses the factors determining the women Self Help Groups and patterns of savings, loan, credit utilization and repayment etc. The study is based on primary data collected through field surveys in the state of Haryana. The selected schemes are the Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), Swayamsiddha and one community based organization in the southern part of Haryana named as Social Centre for Rural Initiatives and Advancement (SCRIA). In the study it was found that the main motivational factors for SHG members were saving, access to cheaper credit, contribution to household income and to spend more on children. Government officials were the main motivational agent to join the group followed by neighbour/relatives, social animators deputed by DRDA, NGO workers, family members, members of other groups and Anganwadi workers and bank officials. The study found that the frequency of loan was highest in SCRIA groups followed by SGSY and Swayamsiddha. Highest loan amount was in SCRIA followed by SGSY and Swayamsiddha. The average group loan was highest in SCRIA followed by SGSY and Swayamsiddha. The results of Tukey test show the significant difference between the values. Major part of the loan amount was spent on consumption, health and social events which shows the distortion in the loan use. On the issue of timely repayment of the loans, a good %age of members claimed that they could not manage to repay on time.