127.As mentioned above，some micro-credit schemes have been instrumental in increasing people's participation in local decision-making.In pilot schemes，members have formed their own groups and chosen their own leaders.Such selforganization is in line with recent developments in China that have enhanced local participation in government.The implementation of the village election law has already enabled rural dwellers in more than 60 per cent of China's nearly one million villages to exercise some degree of self-government.The flourishing of village social organizations such as micro-finance groups helps strengthen the general trend toward greater local democracy.Building collective self-reliance is not easy，however.It is based on mutual trust among the members of the association and confidence in the leaders that they choose to represent them.The associations must be based on the effective participation of all members.In other words，every member should feel that he or she has a voice in the group's major decisionmaking.