Empowerment of women in developmental aspects: Role of SHGs

Abstract

The strongest arguments for women’s financial inclusion are economic in nature. If half a country’s population is un-banked or under banked- meaning they lack access to credit, savings and other financial services- that represents a potentially huge gap in economic growth (Harsha Rodrigues). Today, women are facing discrimination in all walks of life be it social, cultural, economic and political. Although, substantial effort was putted in by government from time to time to end gender discrimination but the ground reality has not changed much even in 21st century. The truth is that achieving gender equality has become an unmet target due to deep rooted patriarchy system in our society. Hitherto, the experience of the Indian people and administrators with SHGs experience with SHGs has been positive. Most of these SHGs are emerging as a promising financial innovation with great potential to reach the poor and marginal in a cost-effective way to bring them to the main fold of the economy. There are many positive spin-offs from this SHG programmes. Percentage points, improvement of status in the family, group and in the society were 93.10, 85.04 and 62.20 respectively in YCB while these figures are 86, 75.02 and 65.43 respectively for VELUGU. The overall score for the social development between YCB and VELUGU was 66.59 and 46.91 percent. For primary data, 180 members from the VELUGU sponsored SHGs and 180 members from YCB sponsored groups are taken up for intensive study. In total, 360 women members are interviewed and data collected.