Integrated Self Help Group (I-SHG) - The Potential Maximized Through a Sustainable Social Business Model

For the empowerment of rural (poor) women, most of the developing nations, including India, have developed means through Self Help Groups. Kerala , being one of the states with most literacy rates, the SHG concept has been understood and replicated with rigour. Such groups are provided with support and encouragement for setting up of a unit – mainly product oriented-limited to their expertise and interest sometimes exceeding to the level of gaining competence through training and development. At present most of these units are self-contained within the horizons of their competence and expertise. Improvements in their operations, business planning, innovating, finding newer and better markets, scientifically managing the business as a whole, all possesses great challenge. This becomes a mammoth task when the numbers of units are growing. Beyond women collectives men are forming SHGs as well and the task of micro managing theses units becomes nearly inadequate and hence a better mechanism of sustainable development is thought of by creating platform to integrate various SHGs especially from the rural part of the state, but not limiting to it, with a large pool of MBA aspirants from various B-Schools.This collaboration when linked to a massive intellectual, practical and experienced resource of retired self-actualizes and industry experts could amplify the cooperative model. Innovative integration of management education to the “grassroot level empowerment” christened as I-SHG (Integrated Self Help Group) is an Online Portal-based working project aimed at collaboration, cooperation and coexistence of prevailing SHGs, MBA aspirants, academicians, practicing experts, inspired professionals, corporate entities, retired self actualizers, voluntary groups, financial institutions, regulatory bodies and the government both online and offline. This is an initiative mainly to connect the rural segment with the global paradigms resulting in a sustainable Social Business Model. The concept could be replicated in various management related situations where a collective problem solving is required