ABSTRACT
This study investigates the role of women's collectives within the framework of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). It aims to assess the impact of social capital on income generation and multi-dimensional poverty. The analysis is based on a combination of secondary sources and firsthand observations that were gathered through involvement in the field. With 83.6 million rural and 6 million urban members, these women's collectives represent significant social capital waiting to be leveraged for livelihood diversification. While these collectives face multiple challenges – from credit accessibility and working capital constraints to professional management needs and marketing hurdles – none are insurmountable. The study highlights that rather than public subsidies, the focus should be shifted towards professional support, streamlined governance processes, and credit linkages.
