Vol. 12, Special Issue 8 (2023)

Author(s):
Monica Singh and Sandeep Deshmukh

Abstract:
India's SHG-Bank Linkage Program' stands as the globe's largest microfinance system, characterized by remarkable expansion over the past two decades. In this trajectory, NABARD has enlisted the expertise of distinguished faculty, technocrats, and professionals to assess the performance and impact of the SHG-Bank Linkage Program. Predominantly, these inquiries have focused on tangible program outcomes, with limited exploration of its affective or psychological facets. In response, this current study emerged, aiming to forge and standardize a scale capable of gauging the attitudes of rural women towards SHGs. For the construction of the attitude scale, the method of summated ratings, as outlined by Likert (1932), was meticulously pursued. Among the initial 50 statements, 24 were judiciously retained to gauge attitudes. The scale's reliability and validity attest to the precision and consistency of the yielded results. Consequently, this instrument holds the potential to evaluate women members' attitudes towards SHGs across diverse contexts, transcending the study's immediate scope. Notably, such a tailored instrument for gauging attitudes towards SHGs had hitherto been lacking in the country. This study, therefore, stands as a substantial stride in the realm of agricultural extension, augmenting the existing knowledge base and scientific discourse by delivering a meticulously developed scale to quantify women members' attitudes towards Self-Help Groups.