SHG: A Significant Tool for Co-operative Entrepreneurship in Rural West Bengal

Abstract

The current concept of Global Village seems very apt even in this 21st century marked by modernization and hi-tech revolution as the world is predominantly rural till date, especially the developing world. About 69% of the people of low income countries live in rural areas and in South Asia the figure stands at 72%. Thus, more than three quarters of the world's population lives in rural areas and more than a half of the world's poor are expected to do so in 2025. As is well known, that rural population is a major population segment in India. According to the 2001 Census of India, 72.2% of the total population is rural. The rural economy still accounts nearly 40% of India's GDP. Share of exports coming from rural economy in GDP is also on the increase. Major contribution to exports comes from the agricultural and allied sectors such as handloom, power loom, gem & jewellery, handicrafts, carpets, leather and mineral products, all of which have at least one primary rural production base. However, despite the strong base of our rural economy, there is consensus that more than 250 million people remain poor in India, even after 63 years of Independence, irrespective of the debate on the methodology and indicators used for poverty estimates. A humble attempt has been made in this paper to review the status of cooperative entrepreneurship in rural West Bengal.