It has been observed that the stability and sustainability of self help groups is threatened by adverse social conditions prevalent in a region. In several parts of Uttar Pradesh, for example, progress is hindered by the existence of feudal relations among people. Problems acquire complexity with the interplay of caste equations. Untouchability often exists in its crudest form. Wage rates do not increase due to indirect bondage of labour arising out of indebtedness. Low levels of literacy contribute to lack of awareness and difficulties in developing skills associated with record keeping or simple accounts. Gender inequalities contribute to lack of initiatives on part of women affecting leadership and decision making in groups.

In normal situation, groups are promoted by institutions, which also help in their management and linkage to a local bank for facilitating credit to its members. The group pressure ensures recovery of loans and both the bank and group members benefit from the process. However, in adverse social situations described, the very presence of a self help groups creates tension and conflict between its members and local vested interests. The resulting group dynamics often leads to doubts or conflict among members and groups become irregular or defunct after some time. This is also because illiterate members remain dependent on the promoting institution for the conduct of its business including its accounts and record maintenance systems.

Manavodaya's work towards promotion of sustainable self help groups has shown that despite such adverse conditions, groups can develop stability through establishment of appropriate systems and practices.

Proper Accounts and Records Keeping

It is of utmost importance that the group maintains its records, especially the accounts, in a regular and transparent manner known to all the members. This is particularly so because of situations where literacy is very low. The cash management system must be complementary to the accounts system and the two must tally with each other.

Manavodaya has introduced a simplified system of accounts and record keeping that can be easily understood by school level literate persons too. The books allow easy audit and are available in the form of two thin registers that have a validity for two years. This system of record keeping has already been accepted for use by the government and banks in some districts of Uttar Pradesh.

Introduction of a Munim (Local Accountant)

A munim refers to a person chosen by the group for proper maintenance of its records including accounts. The person may or may not belong to the group, but it is important that the services are paid for by the groups' resources. During the one year after the concept of munim was introduced, Manavodaya experienced that this was not a straight forward exercise and the members accepted a paid munim only when they clearly understood the long term purpose and groups sustainability concerns independent of Manavodaya.

The concept of a munim is now well established in Manavodaya promoted groups. A munim is often seen to handle several groups in an area with payments averaging around Rs 50 per group. It has become a source of employment to educated youths. Manavodaya has been conducting extensive training programmes for such munims. This has allowed Manavodaya to withdraw completely from several areas, intervening only for technical reasons like audit, training, conflict resolution or federation issues.

Practices to Strengthen Group Loaning System

As groups evolve, they gradually develop a casual approach towards the process of loaning. Defaults in loans, even if they are unwilling or temporary can seriously affect group dynamics. Hence collective sharing of responsibility for return of loans, strictness in loan disbursals and fixation of intalments for recovery are simple but important practices at group level that are sometimes overlooked. It is important that groups realise the need for early correction of such mistakes. The Sitapur experience suggests that groups become sustainable only when they realise that collective discipline relating to these factors is essential for solidarity and survival in adverse circumstances.

This is a process of self regulation by groups that needs to fostered through regular discussion with members and leaders of groups. As our experience shows, there is also a need for establishing an effective system of monitoring through munims and association of groups. Manavodaya has been working towards development of an information system that simplifies the process of monitoring so that irregularities are easily identified. This has ot been easy as there was no past tradition of organised record keeping and linked decision making.

Development of Group Associations

It is observed that clarity of perception and acceptance of practices pertaining to sustainability comes more easily when groups are organised into associations. In Sitapur, associations of groups evolved at two levels:

a. the village cluster level involving several groups in a village, and

b. the area level involving several clusters in an area

In the process of evolving self management process among the poor illiterate population, it has been found that inculcating such practices is not only key to sustainability of groups, but also basic to the process of social mobilisation. It is not enough to raise awareness among people. Weak management procedures can kill a good social initiative. While visiting people's groups in different parts of the state it has been noted with concern the absence of self management processes leading to weakening and ultimate collapse of groups. the work and Manavodaya, therefore, acquires special significance in establishing and spreading group management systems for sustainability.