Vision Building-a Sure Way to Facilitate Sustainable institutions for the Poor

9

Peer Group Evaluation-An Innovative Process

for Group Quality Maintenance

G

responsibility about its member-group.

roup quality monitoring is an

The women can relate themselves to this

important and challenging issue

group evaluation easily and accept the

self-help group (SHG) based savings

same as fellow group members do the

and credit programmes. A good quality

evaluation. There is always a factor of

group is the lifeline of a good savings

pride and honour to be a good group in

and credit programme. It is not only

the Sabha. Currently, the evaluation is

important for the promoting non-

done annually. One fallout of the

government organization (NGO) but

evaluation may be the ineligibility of the

for the group members as well. Unless

group to apply for bank loans or any

the group members understand the

benefits of maintaining a good quality

other external loan. The Sabha may not

allow a bad group to get an external

group, it would be increasingly difficult

loan. If this kind of decision is taken by

and risky for the promoting NGO to

monitor the group and channelise loans

the Sabha, the group is given two-three

months of time to improve its quality and

to the same. A well trained and aware

reapply for a loan. When the group

group can regularly help the NGO and

reapplies  for  loan,  its  area  of

the bank to avoid the problem of

improvement is discussed in the Sabha

adverse selection and moral hazard.

and if the Sabha is satisfied, the group is

Ibtada is an NGO working in two blocks

granted permission for loan application.

of the Mewat region in the Alwar district

Ibtada believes this process can be

of Rajasthan in around 65 villages on the

refined further. Currently, Ibtada sets the

SHG-Cluster-Federation model. Currently

evaluation parameters and indicators.

it has 202 SHGs based on which 19 cluster-

A well trained and

Ideally the women should set the

level bodies called Mahila Sabha has

aware group can

parameters. They should also set the

been formed. It has developed a system

regularly help the

minimum standard of the member-

of peer group evaluation by the SHG

NGO and the

groups. This kind of peer group evaluation

members. The process Ibtada follows for

bank to avoid the

can be put into practice from the

peer group evaluation is as follows. A

problem of

beginning of the programme. However,

team of five to seven members is formed

adverse selection

the group members are needed to be

at the Sabha, which is given half-day

and moral hazard.

sensitised properly about the utility of this

training and orientation on how to

exercise. Otherwise, it may lead to an

evaluate a group. The team visits the

unhealthy  culture  of  deliberately

group on a designated date and time

showcasing one group as a bad one by

as decided by the group. Different

the other groups.

pictorial cards are made on the basis of

evaluation parameters. The evaluation

takes place in a participatory manner

with the team members asking the group

members  about  each  parameter,

discussing  with  them  about  the

weaknesses or strengths. The group is

assigned green, yellow or red colors on

each parameter after the group members

understand and accept their strength

or  weakness  on  that  particular

parameter. At the end, a summary of the

evaluation is done about the condition

of the group based on the number of

green/red points received by the groups.

An action plan is also prepared in

consultation with the group members to

improve the weaknesses.

The main objective of peer group

evaluation is to sensitise the women

about group quality maintenance. The

process motivates the women to take

responsibility about her group and

Discussion going on about group evaluation during Annual

motivates

the

Sabha

to

take

Meeting of Sabha