Do self-employment opportunities through group activities impact standard of living in developing economies? A study on select Urban areas of North-East India

Socio-economic development through the group approach has been an acceptable, successful and popular approach in the present-day world. That's why empowering the Self-help Groups (SHGs) has been an approach towards socio-economic development and poverty alleviation both in the urban and rural areas in India and many developing countries of the world. The issue of poverty has been the focus of development initiatives in the entire Asia-Pacific region since the end of the colonial era. North-Eastern part of India is among the least developed regions in India. Characterized by land-locked surface area having international border of around 5400 kilometres with China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal, the region bears huge strategic importance for India.