The role of Self Helps Groups (SHG) has assumed national attention in rural development instead of single beneficiary activities, group (10-20members) activities are broad based and rewarding. The Self Helps Groups are micro institutions, which contribute largely to the rural development and Environmental Conservation Programmes.

This paper brings to the light the role-played by the NGO led Self Help Groups in preserving and conserving our environment.

The concept of Self Help Group:

A SHG is a group of about 20 people from a homogeneous class who come together, for addressing their common problems. The lower age limit for the member is 18 and the upper age limit is 60. The group members of SHG are encouraged to make voluntary thrift on a regular basis. They use this pooled resources to make small interest bearing loans to their members.

The group has an animator to co-ordinate and two representatives from the members. The animator acts a leader of the group and help in smooth running of the group activities.

Initiatives taken by the SHG’s in environmental related issues:

Health:

Good health stimulates economic growth and social stability, while reducing poverty and income inequality, promoting good health particularly benefits the poor who are largely dependent on their own labor for their livelihood.

Many of the villages in India are so for untouched by the government health services. In order to make the health services accessible to all members of the communities the medium of Self Help Groups are used by the NGO’s to provide these services.

The success of the health initiatives are closely linked to women’s self-help groups. These self help group play an important role in creating awareness about community issues and needs.

The following are the areas in which SHG’s are actively engaging themselves in order to create awareness about health among the village communities. Health awareness programmes are run in villages in different form by the SHG’s with the help of Non Governmental Organisations (NOGs). They are

- Health awareness Exhibitions.
- Meetings.
- Demonstration sessions.
- Immunization of mother and children.
- Family planning camps and counseling for family planning.
- Health checks up camps for the community.
- HIV/AIDS, STD awareness programmes & video shows.
- Child health and nutrition.

Hygiene