Evaluation of the Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY Programme for socio-economic empowerment of women

The Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India had launched “Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana” (SGSY) in rural areas of the country. SGSY had been a  holistic Scheme covering all aspects of self-employment such as organization of the poor into Self Help Groups (SHGs), training, credit, technology, infrastructure and marketing in order  to bring the assisted poor families (Swarozgaries) above the Poverty Line.

The scheme aimed at establishing a large number of micro enterprises in the rural areas. In the twelfth year of its implementation, the present study was designed to holistically assess the implementation, functioning as well as impact of the SGSY programme on SHGs and individual swarojgaries. Considering the crucial role played by the banks the study also assessed the linkages with banks, constraints in dealing with the SHGs.