Consider the following statements: 1. The Self-Help Group (SHG) programme was originally initiated by the State Bank of India by providing microcredit to the financially deprived. 2. In an SHG, all members of a group take responsibility for a loan that an individual member takes. 3. The Regional Rural Banks and Scheduled Commercial Banks support SHGs. How many of the above statements are correct?

Let's analyze the statements regarding the Self-Help Group (SHG) programme:

1. The Self-Help Group (SHG) programme was originally initiated by the State Bank of India by providing microcredit to the financially deprived. This statement is incorrect. While the State Bank of India (SBI) has been a significant player in promoting and linking SHGs, the SHG movement's origins in India are typically traced to grassroots initiatives by NGOs and developmental organizations in the 1980s, influenced by models like Grameen Bank. NABARD formalized the SHG-Bank Linkage Programme in 1992, which saw active participation from various banks, including SBI, but SBI did not originate the programme.

2. In an SHG, all members of a group take responsibility for a loan that an individual member takes. This statement is correct. A core principle of SHGs is collective responsibility or peer guarantee. Members provide mutual support and take collective ownership of loans, which minimizes default risks and acts as a form of social collateral, substituting for traditional collateral often unavailable to the poor.

3. The Regional Rural Banks and Scheduled Commercial Banks support SHGs. This statement is correct. Both Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) are key financial institutions actively involved in the SHG-Bank Linkage Programme, providing credit to SHGs. Cooperative banks also play a role in this linkage.

Therefore, statements 2 and 3 are correct. Thus, only two statements are correct.