Self-Help Group (SHG) microcredit is emerging as a springboard of developmental finance for Income Generating Activities (IGAs) in rural areas of India, serving the cause of the landless, small, and marginal households. SHG peer pressure is the primary driver of impressive repayment performance. Present field research in India reveals that homogeneity of SHG members and freedom of participation in SHG deliberations are primarily responsible for strengthening collective action. Specifically, the savings and loan per capita, satisfactory performance of organisation, awareness of SHG linkage, the family size, and age-induced responsibility were found to strongly influence the economic performance of SHGs. These are the key drivers of sustainability of SHGs for their welfare. Using empirical evidence, Saikumar C. Bharamappanavara demonstrates the emergence of prime factors determining the performance of SHGs in India by examining their organisational behaviour and recommends appropriate policies for social cloning.

Saikumar C. Bharamappanavara completed his graduation studies in Agriculture from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, and received his Masters in Agricultural Economics from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, India. He later secured a Masters in International Masters Rural Development (IMRD) through the EU-Erasmus Mundus scholarship from the University of Ghent and Humboldt University of Berlin. The IMRD conferred on him the great distinction award for his excellent academic performance. The University Meets Microfinance (UMM) Award 2009 of the Europe Union was conferred for his best thesis and outstanding research work on microfinance. With his continued research interest in the microfinance field, he is presently doing his PhD with a DAAD fellowship at Humboldt University of Berlin in a project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research and Education.