Group discussion Entrepreneurial training SHG women at their Annual Meeting     Multiplier effects - Experiences with SHGs           Reviewing 13 years of activities of this programme, TCT is very proud of what it has achieved with the rural women.   Nearly 50,000 loans totaling over Rs.219 million have been disbursed in the programme More than 10,000 of them have used the money totaling to Rs.118 million, to set up micro enterprises of varying kinds. (See Table of Business Projects Supported) The women were able to increase their savings and incomes and improve their asset base. They have improved significantly in their reading and writing and numeric skills. The illiterate women have not only learnt to sign their names, but also have learnt to read to understand the details of the programme, and have become functionally literate. They have learnt to do transactions with the Banks. They are now able to make personal decisions and are increasingly participating in family and village activities. There has been great improvement in their self-esteem. Their status in the family has improved considerably. They are more confident to deal with outsiders for their needs. There is significant change is in their attitude towards daughters. Many of them now treat their sons and daughters alike for health and education. Those who have sons do not demand dowry, and those who have daughters will give only what they please for dowry. Certainly the SHG programme has catalysed a change in the perceptions about women in people's eyes.