Correct Answer: Andhra Pradesh

Solution : The correct answer is (a) Andhra Pradesh

The Self Help Group (SHG) approach was first implemented in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. The concept of SHGs was introduced as a community-based approach to empower women and promote their socio-economic development.

In the 1980s, the Government of Andhra Pradesh initiated the formation of women's groups, known as Self Help Groups, to encourage savings, credit availability, and entrepreneurship among women. This approach aimed to address the issues of poverty, financial exclusion, and gender inequality by providing women with a platform for collective action, capacity building, and access to credit and financial services.

The success of the SHG model in Andhra Pradesh led to its replication and expansion in other states of India and became a key strategy for rural development and poverty alleviation programs nationwide.