Micro Credit: SHG Movement - A Mission
Micro Credit: SHG Movement - A Mission
Micro Credit: SHG Movement - A Mission
SBI has taken up SHG movement as a mission. A noble mission to reach those
families who were hitherto having no access to the credit by any formal financial
institution and, therefore, were depending on informal sources and moneylenders.
Micro finance is not new to State Bank of India. Bank’s association with non-
government organizations (NGOs) or voluntary agencies in extending financial help
can be traced as far back as 1976 well before NABARD introduced SHG-Bank Credit
Linkage Programme as a pilot project in 1992.
SBI has actively participated in SHG-Bank Credit Linkage programme since its
inception in 1992 as a pilot project of NABARD. Since then the Bank has made a
steady progress in financing SHGs. As on March 2006, SBI’s branches spread
throughout the length and breadth of the country have opened 6,30,067 Savings
Bank account of SHGs out of which more than 5.41 lacs SHGs have been provided
with credit facilities thus benefiting more than 75 lacs poor people. Majority of these
SHGs are women SHGs. The year-wise cumulative position of SHGs-Bank Linkage
programme for the last 4 years is as under:
SBI is maintaining its position as a leader among Commercial Banks in credit linking
of SHGs and is a prime driver for the movement. As at the end of March 2006, SBI
with a share of approximately 47% of total SHGs financed by Commercial Banks is
far ahead of others.
Bank has successfully initiated various measures toward widening its SHG network.
To list a few examples:
(i) Sensitisation of staff: Bank’s aim is to sensitise the entire staff from Manager
to Messenger working in rural and semi-urban branches towards the programme.
(ii) Special training programmes in SHGs are being conducted at 54 training
centres of the Bank in the country apart from State Bank Institute of Rural
Development, Hyderabad.
(iii) Close liaison with NGOs: Operating functionaries at branch level and region
level are in close contact with NGOs in their area to take the movement ahead. For
the purpose, regular meetings are arranged with the NGOs and their support is
solicited.
(iv) SHG cells: Special SHG cells have been opened at major branches.
(vi) Sahayog Niwas: SBI has launched its Housing Loan product ‘SAHAYOG NIWAS’
meant for SHG members. Under the scheme formulated keeping the socio economic
conditions of villages insight, housing loans are given to the SHG members without
any mortgage of house / land. Response to this product is very encouraging.
(vii) SBI Life- Shakti: SBI Life, our insurance subsidiary, is the first to introduce a
life insurance scheme, especially designed for SHG members. Special feature of the
scheme is that entire premium amount paid by the member is refunded after
maturity, i.e., 10 years.
(viii) Rural training institutes: To help the rural youth to stand on their feet, two
RUDSETI type training institutes have been established at Gulbarga and Gadag in
Karnataka State, to impart training in self employment to youth free of cost.
(ix) SBI staff as SHPI: The main role of formation and nurturing of SHGs have
been played by NGOs who, apart from their fundamental role of social service, also
aim to make the poor economically self sufficient. But in SBI, our committed work
force is not lagging behind and a number of committed staff members have worked
hard to form and nurture SHGs on their own.
(xi) Samanwita: Bank has sponsored and financially supported NGO ‘SAMANWITA’
in collaboration with Government of Orissa for supplementing the process of socio
economic upliftment of the tribals and the downtrodden in the poorest and most
backward Kandhamal district of Orissa State where 52% of the population is that of
tribals. Core activities performed by Samanwita are empowerment of people through
promotion of SHGs, especially women SHGs and development of human resources.
(xii) SHPI status: State Bank of India is the first Commercial Bank to which
NABARD has recently given SHPI status.
“The Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) were established with a view to developing the
rural economy by providing, for the purpose of development of agriculture, trade,
commerce, industry and other productive activities in the rural areas, credit and
other facilities, particularly to small and marginal farmers, agricultural labourers,
artisans and small entrepreneurs, and for matters connected therewith and incidental
thereto.
As on 31.3.2010, State Bank of India has sponsored 17 RRBs (listed), which operate
in 124 districts of 17 States with a network of 2,651 branches.
The aggregate deposits and advances of all RRBs (sponsored by the Bank) stood at
Rs.19,894 Cr and Rs.12,151 Cr respectively. They have posted a profit of Rs.331.08
Cr during the year 2009-10 recording a growth of 63% over March, 2009. The bulk
of the loans from RRBs were to the priority sector, which accounted for over 82% of
the total advances, as against the bench mark of 40%. Further, the percentage of
agriculture credit to total advances was at 54.12%, as against the benchmark of
18%. RRBs have credit linked 2.99 lac SHGs with disbursements of Rs.1, 536 Cr.”
The Bank has set an ambitious task of migrating all its 17 RRBs to CBS platform by
30th September, 2010. As on 31.03.2010, 4 of our RRBs are fully on CBS platform. In
aggregate, 1365 branches of our RRBs are on CBS platform.