Role of functioning of SHGs on Empowerment of Rural Women

Abstract

It is a well-known fact that women are an integral part of the society, constituting about half of the total population of the world. The all-round development and harmonious growth of a nation would be possible only when women are given their desired place and position in the society and are treated as equal partners of progress with men. Present work was carried out to know the extent of empowerment due to SHG membership of rural women.  Descriptive Research Design was adopted to carry out the research. Multistage purposive random sampling was followed for selection of state, districts, blocks, villages, SHGs and finally the respondents.  In majority about forty-three percent respondents were belonging to 35 to 45 years of age, educated up to high school and are also belonging to OBC category, with the earning Rs. 14,000-16,000 annually from SHGs. Maximum respondents were belonging to joint family and having a pucca house. About forty-seven percent respondents were engaged in dairy farming, whereas 71.25 percent respondents were agreed that they have joined SHG to improve financial conditions of their family, whereas about eighty-one percent respondents were agreed that they have joined SHG to avail benefits of developmental programs of the government. Maximum (65.83%) respondents were agreed on SHG formation for added strength to raise their voice while 62.9 percent respondents were agreed on internal loaning under SHGs which gives freedom of spending to women. Total three-fourth respondents were agreed on bookkeeping which helps them in learning the importance of planned economic activity, whereas in majority 68.75 per cent respondents were agreed on SHGs for preparing women to take up more responsibilities in community action program. A little less than eighty percent respondents were in agreement that entrepreneurial activities in SHGs increases their self-confidence and risk bearing capacity and all most cent percent respondents were agreed that entrepreneurial activities under SHGs have increased their desire to learn more professional. 

It is a well-known fact that women are an integral part of the society, constituting about half of the total population of the world. The all-round development and harmonious growth of a nation would be possible only when women are given their desired place and position in the society and are treated as equal partners of progress with men. Present work was carried out to know the extent of empowerment due to SHG membership of rural women.  Descriptive Research Design was adopted to carry out the research. Multistage purposive random sampling was followed for selection of state, districts, blocks, villages, SHGs and finally the respondents.  In majority about forty-three percent respondents were belonging to 35  to 45 years of age, educated up to high school and are also belonging to OBC category, with the earning Rs. 14,000 – 16,000 annually from SHGs. Maximum respondents were belonging to joint family and having a pucca house. About forty-seven per cent respondents were engaged in dairy farming, whereas 71.25 percent respondents were agreed that they have joined SHG to improve financial conditions of their family, whereas about eighty-one per cent respondents were agreed that they have joined SHG to avail benefits of developmental programs of the government. Maximum (65.83%) respondents were agreed on SHG formation for added strength to raise their voice, while 62.9 per cent respondents were agreed on internal loaning under SHGs which gives freedom of spending to women. Total three-fourth respondents were agreed on bookkeeping which helps them in learning the importance of planned economic activity, whereas in majority 68.75 per cent respondents were agreed on SHGs for preparing women to take up more responsibilities in community action program. A little less than eighty per cent respondents were in agreement that entrepreneurial activities in SHGs increases their self-confidence and risk bearing capacity and all most cent percent respondents were agreed that entrepreneurial activities under SHGs have increased their desire to learn more professional skills