ROLE OF NATIONAL RURAL LIVELIHOOD MISSION (NRLM) ON COST OF LIVING STANDARD OF THE SCHEDULED CASTE COMMUNITIES AT DHEMAJI AND LAKHIMPUR DISTRICT OF ASSAM

Motivation/Background: The financial aspects are considered as an integral part for development of rural areas in every nation. Small financial helps can defiantly improve the living standard of the poor. Here the role of microfinance is crucial. Through microfinance the poor and needy people can fulfil their day to day and small economic and financial requirements upto certain extend. In India it is seen that most of the people lives in the rural areas are below the poverty line and finance to these group is very much essential. Moreover, the vulnerable groups are more deprived of their basics needs particularly the SCs and the STs.  Thus, an effort has been made by the researcher to study the pros and cons of NRLM and its impact on economic condition of poor SC people living in the rural areas at Dhemaji and Lakhimpur district of Assam through this paper. Method: For that purpose, both the primary and secondary data have been used. For collecting the primary data, a total number of 140 (7 X 10 X 2=140) respondents from 70 SHGs had randomly selected comprising of 10 SHGs from the seven Development Blocks and from each sample SHGs 2 members were selected. Results and Conclusions: Study revealed that inspite of facing the problems like marketing, transportation, flood and proper management and training of the group, the SHGs are functioning well in terms of improvement of food security and cost of living standard of the SC member’s household in the area under study.