Knowledge of the SHG Members Towards Self-Help Group- Bank Linkage Program in Loisingha Block of Balangir District, Odisha

Abstract

There has been an imperative need to support the development of farm sector through
provision of credit and empowerment of rural poor households, especially women. The active participation
of the rural women in income generating activities under rural set-up is very low. With the goal of
promoting sustainability and growth of rural economy through credit support, other financial services and
new innovative programmes, NABARD started Self Help Group - Bank Linkage Programme in India in
1992. The present study was undertaken to find out the socio-economic profile and to determine the level of
knowledge of the members towards SHG- Bank Linkage Program in Loisingha Block of Balangir district,
Odisha. Descriptive research design was followed for the present study. One hundred twenty respondents
were selected randomly from ten villages of Loisingha block, Balangir district, which was selected
purposely. The study revealed that 37.5% of respondents had low level of knowledge, followed by medium
level of knowledge (35%) and 27.5% of respondents had high level of knowledge. There was a positive and
significant relationship between age, education, annual income, extension contact, source of information
and progressiveness with the level of knowledge of the respondents. Land holding had a non-significant
relationship with the level of knowledge of the respondents.