Vol. 3, Issue 11, Part C (2017)

Abstract
Self-Help Groups have been a panacea for the exploitation, social backwardness, lack of information and upliftment of the rural masses. The bottom of the pyramid needs to be supplemented with the economic resources, information, financial and banking services and the like. SHGs have played a very crucial role in meeting the credit needs of the rural masses especially the women. The SHGs have brought about paradigm shift in the democratic, economic, social and cultural aspects of the rural areas. The present study is a conceptual framework of the SHGs in the Indian context.