EVALUATION OF THE NATIONAL RURAL LIVELIHOOD MISSION SELF HELP GROUPS IN THE JAMMU REGION
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Date
2018-09
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Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Jammu
Abstract
National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) scheme was launched in 2011 with an agenda to reach out and mobilise seventy million below poverty line (BPL) households into self-managed self-help groups (SHG) and federal institutions and support them through livelihood collectives. Whether the SHGs are able achieve the stated objectives, an empirical evaluation study entitled, “Evaluation of the National Rural Livelihood Mission Self Help Groups in the Jammu Region” was undertaken. The study was conducted in purposively selected Jammu and Samba districts in the Jammu region. Out of a total of 670 SHGs set up till 2017, a sample of 20 SHGs, 10 from each purposively selected Dansal block of Jammu district and Ghagwal block of Samba district were selected employing random sampling technique without replacement. Based on the feasibility, one shot case study evaluation research design was employed for this study. Two semi-structured interview schedules were developed one for SHG members and the second for chief volunteer to measure the immediate outcomes of the SHGs established. The results of the study revealed that monthly income of the households increased from Rs.4545 to Rs.5766 after joining the SHGs with a difference of Rs.1221 per month which was significant (t= 8.54, p= 0.00). There was a significant difference in the possession of cows and poultry birds by the SHG households before and after joining SHGs, thirteen percent of the SHG respondents had taken up the activity of cattle rearing, and 12 percent had changed their source of income from labourers to other activities after joining the SHGs. There was also a significant change in the source of credit as almost 100 percent changed their credit source from money lenders, relatives and neighbours and banks to SHG accounts. It was also found that 18 percent of the SHG households had changed their kachha houses to pucca houses after joining the SHGs. The SHG members’ perception with respect to enhancement of ability to understand and solve the problems, improved standard of living and knowledge about different banking operations found to be positive after joining the SHGs. Although it was successful in bringing the economic empowerment among the rural poor SHG households but there were few shortcomings namely poor income generating activities, no infrastructure creation and marketing support and group level constraints such as problem in bookkeeping, lack of cooperation among the group members poor group cohesiveness, which resulted in poor functioning of the groups. Despite of these constraints the programme has reached the rural poor households of J&K. To overcome the above shortcomings, regular monitoring and evaluation will help in making appropriate changes wherever necessary.
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