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

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.