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Employment Generation through Micro finance and Self-Help Groups in Kancheepuram District
S. Aiswarya Assistant Professor, P. Thilaga Assistant Professor, B. Santhosh Assistant Professor, Department of Business Administration Sri Sankara Arts and Science College Enathur, Kancheepuram
Pages: 1-12 | First Published: 05 Jul 2026
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Abstract

The formation of groups among individuals who share common interests or objectives is a natural social phenomenon. Throughout history, people have joined together to overcome challenges collectively, often achieving greater success through cooperation than through individual efforts. Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are one such community-based initiative designed to empower women by enabling them to address their social and economic challenges collectively. These groups provide a supportive platform for women to enhance their confidence, improve their livelihoods, and participate actively in community development. Over the past three decades, the Self-Help Group movement has expanded significantly across India, emerging as an effective strategy for poverty alleviation and women's empowerment. The movement is founded on the belief that economically disadvantaged individuals possess the inherent potential to improve their living conditions when provided with appropriate opportunities and institutional support. In this context, microfinance has become a powerful instrument for promoting economic empowerment by providing financial services to low-income households, particularly women. Microfinance primarily involves the provision of small loans (microcredit) to poor individuals for income-generating and self-employment activities. In addition to credit, it encompasses other financial services such as savings, insurance, financial literacy, and capacity-building programmes. These services enable women to establish and expand micro-enterprises, increase household income, and achieve greater financial independence. Furthermore, the cooperative movement in India has long played an important role in extending financial services to rural and economically weaker sections of society. Through cooperative institutions and Self-Help Groups, access to affordable credit and financial resources has improved, contributing significantly to employment generation, poverty reduction, and inclusive socio-economic development.

Key Words: Self Help Group, Employment Creation, Microfinance

References

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  3. Venugopalan Puhazhendhi (2013). Microfinance in India: State of the Sector Report 2012, SAGE Publications, New Delhi, 2013.

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  5. B. Siddappa (2013). Self-Help Groups in Karnataka: An Assessment, Southern Economist, Vol. 52(9), Sep, 2013.

  6. B.B. Mansuri (2010). Microfinancing through Self Help Groups – A Case Study of Bank Linkage Programme of NABARD, Asia Pacific Journal of Research in Business Management, Vol. 1(3), Dec, 2010.

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  9. Devarapalli Kondala Rao and Guntaka Jyothi, (2014). SHG-Bank Linkage Programme in India: A study, Southern Economist, Vol. 52(18), Jan, 2014.

  10. Parul Mittal (2014). Overview of the Progress of Microfinance Programme in India, International Journal in Management and Social Science, 2(12), December, 2014.

Digital Entrepreneurship and Social Media Platforms: Examining the Growth of Micro-Businesses in Tamil Nadu
Dr. S. Arokia Punitha Head and Assistant Professor, Department of Business Administration, Holy Cross College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli – 02
Pages: 13-30 | First Published: 05 Jul 2026
Full text | Abstract | PDF | References | Request permissions

Abstract

Social media platforms are widely recognized as enablers of entrepreneurial activity; however, their impact on micro-business growth remains under-theorized in emerging economy contexts. This study examines how and under what conditions social media usage translates into business growth among micro-entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu, India. Drawing on a capability-based perspective, the study proposes that social media marketing influences business growth indirectly through customer engagement, while digital literacy and digital payment adoption act as enabling conditions. Using survey data from 350 micro-entrepreneurs and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the findings reveal that social media usage alone does not guarantee growth. Instead, customer engagement serves as a key mediating mechanism, and digital capabilities significantly enhance effectiveness. The study contributes to digital entrepreneurship literature by moving beyond deterministic assumptions and offering a contextualized explanation of platform-based business growth. Practical implications are provided for entrepreneurs and policymakers to strengthen digital capability development in emerging markets.

Keywords: Digital entrepreneurship, Social media platforms, Micro-businesses, Online marketing, Tamil Nadu.

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