UPSC Mains 2017 GS2 Q16 — Self-Help Groups
"The emergence of the Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in contemporary times points to the slow but steady withdrawal of the State from developmental activities." Examine the role of the SHGs in developmental activities and the measures taken by the Government of India to promote the SHGs. (Answer in 250 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Examine
- Scope keywords
- Self-Help Groups (SHGs)slow but steady withdrawal of the Statedevelopmental activitiesmeasures taken by the Government of India
- Implicit sub-parts
- To what extent does the rise of SHGs validate the 'withdrawal of the State' thesis vs. the State acting as an 'enabler'?
- How have SHGs transitioned from simple micro-credit groups to holistic developmental agents (health, education, governance)?
- What are the specific institutional and fiscal interventions by the GoI beyond just the SHG-Bank Linkage program?
- Common pitfalls
- Focusing only on women's empowerment without addressing the 'withdrawal of the State' philosophical provocation.
- Ignoring the shift from 'State-led' to 'Community-led' development paradigms.
- Treating SHGs solely as micro-finance entities rather than broad developmental actors.
- Failing to mention specific government schemes like DAY-NRLM, Lakhpati Didi, or PM FME.
- Dimensions required
- Economic (Financial Inclusion)Social (Gender and Caste Empowerment)Political (Grassroots Democracy and Social Audit)Administrative (State as Facilitator vs. Provider)
- Marks allocation hint
Spend 40-50 words on the 'State withdrawal' debate to set the context. Allocate 100 words to the diverse roles of SHGs in development (health, sanitation, livelihood). Use the remaining 100 words to detail government measures and provide a forward-looking conclusion.
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