A STUDY ON ENHANCEMENT OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AMONG THE SELF HELP GROUP MEMBERS AFTER JOINING THE GROUP WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE THIRUVARUR DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

Abstract

In recent years, SHGs have become a significant movement in India. The Self-Help Group (SHG) movement in India has been working in the right direction in empowering women and eradicating poverty in the rural and urban areas. Many women in India strongly believe in the movement and hold it responsible for improving their livelihoods. However, women are still not empowered as per the expectation. The present study is an attempt to analyse the role and performance of after joining SHGs in promoting women's empowerment in Thiruvarur District of Tamil Nadu. The broad objective of the study is to analyse the operating system of SHGs for mobilization of saving, delivery of credit and in building up of opinion of SGH members regarding increase in the power of decision making. To find out the social status in political, as individual and impact as group member of the selected women respondents through the SHG activities in the study area. Both primary and secondary data are collected and age, family system and number of dependents in the family, etc., are analysed in demographic information. The study focuses on the role of SHGs in women empowerment, social solidarity and socio-economic betterment of the poor for their consolidation. Our results revealed that SHG approach provided for the self-directed learning (SDL) to women in the context of their value system, belief and custom was of particular value. The members of the SHGs perceived to have been empowered after joining in this programme and achieved a relatively higher status by inculcating certain skills within themselves.