Evaluation of Himachal Pradesh Gramin Bank in Empowering Rural People in Himachal Pradesh

In the near future, Rural India is going to become a biggest market of the world and it is transforming like anything. Rural development as an emerging trend is about to explore possibilities in the rural India. In our country about 70% of the population lives in rural areas in states like UP, MP, Bihar and Orissa where rural population varies from 80 to 90%.. This paper reports on the findings of an exploratory research whose main purpose was to investigate impact o of Himachal Pradesh Gramin Bank on the socio-economic lives of people in Himachal Pradesh. The study sought to establish whether bank empowers the poor and reduces poverty. The study was conducted through the use of pre tested interview schedule randomly distributed to the beneficiaries in three districts of the state selected for study. The study reveals that there is a positive relationship between credit and socio-economic lives of the rural people in Himachal Pradesh. It was found out loan has resulted in transformation of life style, reduction of poverty and increase in social interaction.