Topic of my research

Finally figured out my research problem. I'm going to focus on the NIRMAAN funded Zuari SHG that is located opposite to BITS Pilani KK Birla Goa campus. They are into making paper bags, as of now the SHG has a market only during the fests of our campus and rest of the time they are out of business. I dont think that's right, I believe that they could make money all through the year. I'm going to focus on the reasons for their unsustainability. If i could find out reasons why they aren't making enough money, I am looking forward to implementing some practical solutions to help improve their sustainability.

On talking to a couple of the people in charge of the SHG project in my campus, I came to know that there a few major problems that are a hindrance to the SHG's sustainability.
The major problems include :
1. Members not trusting the leader of the SHG.
2. Members not happy with the payments.
3. No permanent market for their goods and hence no cash flow all year round.

Now coming to the research problem,

Lets divide it into 3 parts,

Project topic

A topic can further be classified as a broad topic and a focused topic. As the name suggests a focused topic is a narrowed version of the broad topic.

Broad topic

Understanding SHG’s

Focused topic

Study of Zuari SHG to find out the causes for its unsustainability.

Research Questions

Why is the Zuari SHG unsustainable?

Are there any factors on improvement of which Zuari SHG can have permanent markets to sell its goods?

Significance

To help improve the sustainability of the Zuari SHG by finding out the reasons for their unsustainability and practically implement some of the solutions found out to the currently existing problems as part of this research. 

I am planning to focus my research on the cause of these problems and provide solutions wherever possible.

Proposed research problem -

-I am studying the Nirmaan funded Zuari SHG

-to find the reasons for its unsustainability

-and to help improve its sustainability.

To view a presentation made by me related to this topic:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8Y9OkutiQq5aGdsUHB1aDlmY1k/edit

Getting started with research

These are some of the fundamental points that every researcher who is preparing to take the plunge into a new topic must keep in mind :

1.Answer a question that solves a problem that the potential reader cares about
2.Look out for that Mental itch - that eureka moment !!
3.Finding a topic out of the possible research interests
4.List down all ideas relevant to the topic
5.Narrowing down the topic according to timeframe , resources
6.Include action words in your topic name
7.Ask and answer Journalistic questions
8.Answer the “So What” Question, which every potential reader is going to ask about the topic

9.Topic outline (Structure) : Topic, question and Significance
10.There exists a relationship between the solution to a practical problem and a solution to a research     problem
11.Problems are of two types :
        Practical (real world) – applied research
        Conceptual (laboratory) – pure research
14.ASK FOR HELP

Introduction

My area of research is going to primarily focus on Self help groups commonly known as SHG's. A SHG as the name suggests consists of a group of people mostly from the below poverty line who get together and in most of the cases start making a product and selling it to make themselves sustainable and also to provide an additional source of income to their families. Poverty in India is widespread, with the nation estimated to have approximately a third of the world's poor. So unless such SHG's are created India's poor will remain poor always. 

Why this topic ??  

1. I have always been interested in social causes right from childhood. 
2. I would like to see a change in India's economic configuration i.e. see more people getting out of the shackles of poverty