MIS and Information Needs

This presentation addresses the management information system (MIS) issue of a self help group. It involves data collection, processing, analyzing, decision-making, presentation and communication. It lists the following MIS requirements as per the needs of a SHG:

• The essence of SHG is informality;
• Flexibility should be the core of the MIS system;
• User-evolved practices should be encouraged;
• MIS system has to be cost effective and user friendly;
• A broad consensus should be built before introduction.

The presentation describes some of the already existing good practices:

• Separate savings/loan ledgers for SHG accounts in banks;
• Directory of SHGs at the branch level;
• Village-wise index of SHGs;
• Microcredit cells in head offices of banks;
• Quarterly meeting of NGOs;
• Structured meetings with SHGs post linkage;
• Particular day in a week allocated for SHG business;
• Visiting groups on a fixed day for savings and recovery;
• Hiring of animators on contract basis for monitoring groups;
• SHG as a separate head under performance review statement.

Further, the document lists some areas of concern:

• Books of accounts at SHG level;
• Critical information gaps;
• Poor level of computerization;
• SHG versus groups under SGSY;
• Flow of information between SHPI and banks variations in quality of groups promoted by SHPIs.

The presentation finally lists some alternate systems for information needs:

• Self rating tool;
• E Munshi;
• Smart cards for SHG;
• Bare foot book writers.