Role of Micro Finance in Empowering Self-help Groups – An Opportunistic Approach Special Reference to Pune District

The Prime Minister of India aims to create a new destiny with the promise of "Sabke Saath, Sabka Vikas" and new hopes and ambitions. The government has implemented initiatives like Digital India, Jan-dhan Yojana, Swachh Barath, and Skill India to improve the country's economic development. The Prime Minister's choice to "Make in India" holds great promise for modifying the Indian economy. Micro Finance and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are also being used to support economic development in rural India. SHGs have been instrumental in helping poor people and empowering women, with many women in India trusting these developments in improving their livelihoods. Micro finance is a strategy that distributes growth among society, creating opportunities for self-help groups and rural women. This powerful tool empowers women, especially those who are more dependent on others. The government has introduced various schemes for rural women to improve their situation and access micro credit. This paper explores the role and impact of microfinance in self-help groups, highlighting its role in promoting women's growth in families and society. The government's efforts to ensure access to credit for these women are crucial for their betterment. This paper mainly studies the role of Micro Finance and Self Help Groups (SHGs) for the socio-economic development of poor people and women empowerment in the selected rural areas of the Pune district . The primary data was collected for the present study by using a structured questionnaire, in addition to the secondary data.