SOCIAL IMPACT OF MICROFINANCE ON RURAL WOMEN DEVELOPMENT OF ARIANKUPPAM BLOCK

The concept of self-help groups gained significance, especially after 1976 when Prof. Mohammed Yunus of Bangladesh began experimenting with micro-credit and women SHGs. SHGs created on the above lines of functioning have been able to reach the poor effectively, especially women and help them obtain easy access to facilities like savings and credit and empower them (National Bank, 1995). The present study is mainly evaluates the socio impact of microfinance on rural SHGs members of Ariankuppam block in Puducherry. The researcher has collected primary data through questionnaire method and the sample of 120 members was selected on basis of convenience sampling method. The study major findings are majority of members fall under age group between 26-35 years, followed by 36-45 years, above 45 years and below 25 years. It is also showed that 75.0 per cent of them are taking decision based on consensus method, followed by voting (11.7 per cent) and group representative (13.3 per cent).