NABARD: Inclusion Institution

NABARD has played a pioneering role in financial inclusion by extending formal banking services to the unreached rural poor by evolving supplementary credit strategies in a cost effective manner by promoting Self Help groups (SHGs), Joint Liability Groups,Farmers’ Clubs etc. As on 31 March 2009, 4.2 million SHGs were credit linked – out of a total of 6.1 million – covering more than 700 million poor households, making it the largest micro finance programme in the world. Its Village Development Programme has spread over 421 districts across 25 states. It has formed over 38,215 Farmers’ Clubs spread in 581 districts and helped set up District Rural Industries in 106 districts. Amongst its capacity building initiatives – Rural Entrepreneurship Development Program has helped thousands of women gain meaningful occupations. It also strengthens the rural credit delivery system through appropriate interventions and institutional development. In all, the beneficiary list of NABARD initiatives stands upwards of 120 million.