Microfinance Focus February 4, 2011: The Ministry of Rural Development recently released grant-in-aid worth Rs 51.30 crores for the implementation of centrally sponsored Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana to be spread over 21 districts of Assam in the year 2010-11. The grant is a second installment of central share of funds for the same and will be released to respective District Rural Development Agencies.The objective of the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) is to bring the assisted poor families (Swarozgaries) above poverty line by ensuring appreciable sustained level of income over a period of time.The objective has to be achieved by inter alia organizing the rural poor into Self Help Groups (SHGs) through the process of social mobilization, their training and capacity building and provision of income generating assets. The SHG approach will help the poor to build their self-confidence through community action.  Interactions in group meetings and collective decision making will enable them to identify and prioritize their needs and resources. The process would ultimately lead to the strengthening and socio-economic empowerment of the rural poor as well as improve their collective bargaining power.