Self-Help Groups and Development in Contemporary India: State Withdrawal or Participatory Governance?
Introduction In recent decades, Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have emerged as one of the most significant grassroots institutions in India’s development landscape. From microfinance and livelihood generation to social empowerment and local governance, SHGs today play a multifaceted role in addressing developmental challenges. Their rapid proliferation has led to the argument that the growing prominence of…