Ph. D. Report of Mrunali S. Lilhare Under the guidance of Dr. Sanjay S.

Tekade Jawaharlal Nehru Arts, Commerce & Science College Wadi, Nagpur On the Topic A Critical Evaluation of the Working of Below Poverty Line Self Help Group in Maharashtra (With Special Reference to Gondia District) (1999-2009) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I have gone through the thesis entitled A Critical Evaluation of the Working of Below Poverty Line Self Help Group in Maharashtra (With Special Reference to Gondia District) (1999-2009) submitted by Mrunali S. Lilhare under the supervision of Dr. Sanjay S. Tekade, Jawaharlal Nehru Arts, Commerce & Science College, Wadi, Nagpur. The thesis contains six chapters. Chapter one is an introductory which focuses on concept of self help group, SHGBank linkage model, status of SHGs in India and about Gondia district etc. Second Chapter is devoted to literature review. Third chapter discusses the Self Help Group development in India and Maharashtra especially to Gondia district. Chapter fourth elaborates the research methodology used in the study. The fifth chapter deals with the analysis and interpretation. The last chapter highlights the research findings, conclusions and suggestions.

The study is descriptive in nature and is based on primary and secondary data. The primary data were collected through structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was divided into two parts; for SHG members and for official of banks and microfinance groups. It contains 53 and 22 questions respectively. The sample size was 480 members of SHGs selected from Gondia district. The secondary data were collected from the financial transactions of SHG members including the amount of external loans received from banks, NGOs and the grants from the revolving fund of the panchayath.

The study concludes that more than 80 percent of beneficiaries borrowed loan an average size of Rs. 2500 to 15000 from the SHGs in 2-6 equal installments at an interest rate of 2 percent per month. Whereas in 2000, the loan was the same as above. Group members who had undertaken income generating activities collectively was observed in case of 26 percent of SHGs. The products taken by the members collectively were food items, soap powder, bakery items, agarbatti, vermicelli, candle making etc. Concentrated in income generating activities like food items preparation, soap powder, bakery items and followed by agarbatti making, vermicelli, candle preparation and other items etc. The work suggests that if the various agencies come forward to help the SHGs, it can certainly take a lead role in the development of women entrepreneurs.

On the basis of above observations, it may be recommended that the Ph.D. degree may be awarded to Mrunali S. Lilhare. on the aforesaid topic.

(Dr. Raj Kumar) Professor Faculty of Management Studies Banaras Hindu University Varanasi- 221005 Mob: 09415991709

Date: February 26, 2014