Objectives: The study tries to look at how the SHG movement unfolding in Bihar is not only being a stable and reliable source of finance for the familial needs but also empowering the for women coming from marginalized sections.
Methods/Statistical Analysis: This study is based on the survey conducted among selected SHGs in Muzaffarpur, Saran and Vaishali districts. Along with the direct interview done with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire about the use of the loans taken the details of financial transactions of the SHGs were taken from Len-Den Pustika. For understanding the socio-economic background of the areas covered, the census, government documents, research papers and news materials were used.
Findings: JEEViKA has been quiet successful in bringing financial inclusion, developing a habit of saving and providing poor the reach to financial institutions. SHGs are doing well in providing timely and swift help in the case of emergency especially health-related emergencies (33% of the laons are realated to medial issues). Here the corpus funds are being of much importance as the percentage of health-related loans are more in the relatively younger SHGs than in the older ones. Although, the main purpose of the NRLM ius to help women in developing livelihoods, the loans taken for the purpose of establishing an enterprise are few only. Much of the laons taken for the commercial activities are those who has been taken for the expansion of already established business rather than the establishmentof a new enterprise. A large number of laons has been taken for the asset creation (17.77%), especially, building the toilets (62.50%), which shows how JEEViKA is being helpful to another government scheme i.e. Swachh Baharat Abhiyan.
Application/Improvements: Paper argues that the effectiveness of the interventions increases when the socio-politico situation of the area and economic intervention works in a tandem, a case which needs further study.