MFI - A Study of Socio-Economic Indicators of Women SHG's in South Rajasthan with Perspective of Financial Sustainability

Micro finance and its linkage to SHG's is the key to financial sustainability of rural poor and “bottom-up” local economic and social development. Microfinance is an instrument that under the right conditions, fits the needs of a broad range of the population — including the poorest — people living below the poverty line and tribal's. Micro finance, more accurately Micro Credit is an essential tool in economic development helping to establish or to expand income-generating activity.This study is an attempt to examine the change in socio economic indicators of SHG women especially with emphasis to financial sustainability. The question that must be asked is to what extent are socioeconomic opportunities expanded through supplemental income from microcredit loans? To answer this question, measurable indicators that display characteristics of socioeconomic development need to be utilized. The indicators that have been used as representative of such development are: new employment generation, increase in wages, women rejoining workforce, improvement in education level etc. For the purpose of this study both Primary and secondary data have been used