RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROFILE CHARACTERISTICS OF WOMEN SHG MEMBERS AND THEIR EMPOWERMENT THROUGH TNCDW

Abstract

Women’s empowerment is essential to ensuring that they have equal access to opportunities and that their rights are properly respected. This is accomplished by enhancing and expanding women’s social, economic, political, and legal existence. The present study was conducted in Cuddalore Block of Cuddalore District. Proportionate random sampling procedure was applied to select 120 respondents. They were the members of women Self Help Groups of Mahalir Thittam project under the organizational efforts taken by Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women (TNCDW) to explore the relationships between profile characteristics of women SHG members and their empowerment. From the study it was found that SHGs have contributed significantly to the empowerment of women. Out of thirteen variables, six variables viz., educational status, mass media exposure, information sharing behavior, decision making behavior, self-confidence and awareness on women development programmes were found to have positive and significant relationship with the empowerment of women. SHG member’s personal traits as well as group and social activities were the major determinants of empowerment.