Nevertheless, the SHGs and in many cases SHG federations have played a pivotal role in the creation of social capital and empowerment. There are hundreds of examples where the SHGs have worked with NGOs and Government agencies to bring drinking water to their villages, conduct regular health camps, organise adult literacy camps and generally improve the social status of members.
For example, the SHG Federations active in Tamil Nadu have been able to provide life insurance products through an internally administered scheme. In Kerala, the Kutumbashree model set up by the Government covers a variety of financial services as also health insurance.