Several Ministries and Departments of the Government of India, apart from State Governments and civil society organizations are engaged in promoting formation of self help groups (SHGs) including those for women through various schemes  like SGSY, Swaymsidha, SHG bank linkages programmes etc. NABARD alone has disbursed loans of Rs.5,677.36 crores to 9,57,920 women’f self help groups in 2006-07, Rs.7474.26 crores to 10,40,996 women’s self help groups in 2007-08 and Rs.10527.38 crores to 13,74,579 women’s self help groups in 2008-09. The Ministry of Women & Child Development had a programme which was in operation between 2000-01 to 2007-08 under which 69,803 women self help groups were formed.

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Women & Child Development, Smt. Krishna Tirath in Lok Sabha.