The Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), a centrally sponsored scheme of Ministry of the Rural Development, is the largest credit based poverty alleviation programme in the world. Poverty in India is widespread with the nation estimated to have a third of the worlds poor. The Union Ministry of Rural Development launched a restructured poverty alleviation programme, SGSY with effect from 1st April, 1999, which has replaced Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) and its allied schemes viz., Training of Rural Youth for Self Employment (TRYSEM), Development of Women and Children in...