• Rashmi Rekha Pradhan
• Dr. Devi Prasad Misra

Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) play a vital role in extending financial support to the poorer sections of the society. With the entry of commercial banks, Regional Rural Banks and Co-operative Banks with favorable Government regulations and innovative delivery models such as SHG-Bank linkage programs in micro finance field, it has created a new chapter in poverty reduction in rural areas. Considering the above facts, an attempt has been made to analyze the position of Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks and Co-operative Banks in extending micro finance to the SHGs in rural areas through Bank linkage programs. Data has been collected from both primary and secondary sources for the study. Primary data has been collected from a sample consisting of 459 members of 230 SHGs spreading over three districts of Odisha. The main objective is to ascertain whether the micro finance extended through bank-linkage has benefited the SHGs members in their socio-economic development or other-wise. Further, NABARD’s annual reports have been referred to find out the position of bank linkage programs of SHGs in Odisha and the extent of financial inclusion. Here, the aim is to examine the SHG-Bank linkage position and report the trend and position of such innovative scheme for poverty mitigation of the SHGs members. The study finally concludes with few important suggestions for better functioning of SHG-Bank linkage scheme for financial inclusion and the socio-economic development of the SHG members.

Financial Inclusion, Micro Finance, NABARD, SHG-Bank Linkage.

"SHG-Bank Linkage through Micro Finance a Potential Tool for Financial Inclusion: An Empirical Study ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.7, Issue 11, page no.161-167, November-2020, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2011156.pdf

"SHG-Bank Linkage through Micro Finance a Potential Tool for Financial Inclusion: An Empirical Study ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.7, Issue 11, page no. pp161-167, November-2020, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2011156.pdf