The key aspect of the present research is to identify the preliminary respondents through an interview with a few selected leaders and members. Further, a study has been conducted and the data have been collected from 50 SHG leaders and 150 SHG members and the results of the survey have necessitated certain changes for the final structuring of the interview schedule meant for the SHG leaders (500 Nos.) and SHG Members (1500 Nos.) chosen for the study Ever since Independence a number of innovative schemes have been launched for the upliftment of women in our country.
Indian Government has taken lot of initiatives to strengthen the institutional rural credit system and development programmes. Viewing it in the welfare programmes of Ninth Five Year Plan (1997-2002) and shifting the concept of Development to Empowerment. The Indian Government adopted the approach of Self Help Groups (SHGs) to uplift the rural women. The empowerment of women through Self Help Groups (SHGs) would lead to benefits not only to the individual woman and women groups but also the families and community as a whole through collective action for development. This book will be highly useful to students of social studies especially Women Studies, Social Work, Sociology, Economics and also to the students and research scholars specialising in Human Development and NGOs and also other functionaries dealing with women..
After independence, India has been adopting aggressive national economic development plans through various public policies and the policy makers have been emphasizing upon the need of national development ever since the advent of planning process in the country. The ultimate objective of national development is eradication of poverty and improving the quality of masses. In India, there has been an aggressive effort on the part of the Government, concerned with improving the access of the poor to formal credit system through implementation of focused programmes for removal of poverty and thereby aiming economic fortification.
Table of Contents
1. OVERVIEW ON SELF-HELP MOVEMENT
2. SAMPLING DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
3. REVIEWS
4. SELF-HELP GROUPS CONTOUR
5. ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES OF SELF-HELP GROUPS
6. SELF-HELP GROUP MEMBERS CONTOUR
7. ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES OF SELF-HELP GROUP MEMBERS
8. SUGGESTIONS
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this work is to investigate the economic feasibility of activities undertaken by women through the Self-Help Group (SHG) movement in the Coimbatore district, focusing on how these activities improve the economic portfolio of members and contribute to poverty alleviation and empowerment.
- The role of microcredit as a catalyst for poverty reduction and women's empowerment.
- Structural and functional analysis of Self-Help Groups, including their organization and governance.
- The relationship between business profile (type of activity) and feasibility in the context of rural and urban settings.
- Impact of training and skill development on the efficiency and sustainability of group-run enterprises.
- Identifying barriers to growth, such as marketing challenges and financial limitations faced by SHG members.
Excerpt from the Book
CONCEPT OF SELF-HELP GROUPS
The concept of SHGs has its origin in the co-operative philosophy and the co-operators by and large, including the National Federations in the credit sector, could not think of any better SHG than a primary co-operative credit society itself. As SHGs are small and economically homogeneous affinity groups of the poor, they are voluntarily coming together for achieving the following: 1) to save small amount of money regularly, 2) to mutually agree to contribute to a common fund, 3) to meet their emergency needs, to have collective decision-making, 4) to solve conflicts through collective leadership and mutual discussion and 5) to provide collateral-free loans with terms decided by the group at the market-driven rates.
The following are the distinguishing features of Self-Help Groups, say,
i) The form of such a group could be mostly on an informal basis (unregistered),
ii) It normally consists of not less than five persons (with a maximum of twenty) of similar economic outlook and social status,
iii) It promotes objectives like economic improvement and raising resources for development and freedom from exploitation,
iv) It has its own by-laws for the proper functioning of the group as well as for the observance of certain rules by the group members and regulations concerning membership,
v) Periodical meetings of members are held for solving their problems,
vi) Sources of funds are the contributions of members saving, entrance fee, interest from loans, proceeds of joint business operation and income from investments. Funds may be used for loans and common investment in business activities leading to economic empowerment,
vii) The savings of members is used for giving loans to members for purposes including consumption at the rate of interest decided by the group usually higher than the bank charges.
Summary of Chapters
1. OVERVIEW ON SELF-HELP MOVEMENT: This chapter introduces the socio-economic necessity of the SHG movement in India as a tool for poverty eradication and national development.
2. SAMPLING DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY: This section details the descriptive and analytical research framework used to gather data from SHGs and their members in the Coimbatore district.
3. REVIEWS: This chapter provides a comprehensive literature review of previous studies regarding women's empowerment and microfinance effectiveness both in India and internationally.
4. SELF-HELP GROUPS CONTOUR: This chapter presents the demographic profile and functional patterns of the selected SHGs, focusing on organizational structure and rules.
5. ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES OF SELF-HELP GROUPS: This chapter analyzes the business profiles and feasibility of the economic activities undertaken by the groups, categorizing them into agriculture, manufacturing, trading, and service sectors.
6. SELF-HELP GROUP MEMBERS CONTOUR: This chapter focuses on the socio-demographic and economic profiles of individual SHG members, exploring their reasons for persistence in the group and the constructive effects of their participation.
7. ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES OF SELF-HELP GROUP MEMBERS: This chapter investigates the specific industrial ventures and economic activities performed by individual members, analyzing their success and feasibility factors.
8. SUGGESTIONS: This concluding chapter offers actionable recommendations for government bodies, SHG facilitators, and group members to enhance the efficacy of the movement.
Keywords
Self-Help Groups, SHG, Microfinance, Women Empowerment, Economic Fortification, Coimbatore District, Poverty Alleviation, Rural Credit, Entrepreneurship, Financial Inclusion, Business Feasibility, Demographic Profile, Microcredit, Cooperative Philosophy, Socio-Economic Development
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
This book explores the economic progression and impact of the Self-Help Group (SHG) movement in the Coimbatore district, specifically how these groups serve as vehicles for women's empowerment and financial stability.
What are the key thematic areas covered?
The main themes include the organizational structure of SHGs, the demographic profile of members, the feasibility of their business activities, and the role of microcredit in overcoming poverty.
What is the primary research question?
The central inquiry is whether the economic activities progressed through the SHG movement are feasible enough to significantly improve the economic portfolios and overall standards of living for women members.
Which methodology is employed in this research?
The study utilizes a descriptive and analytical research design, employing statistical tools such as percentage analysis, weighted average means, the Henry Garrett ranking technique, and Chi-square tests to validate data.
What does the main body of the work address?
The main body examines the functional patterns, record-keeping practices, challenges in business operations (such as marketing and training), and the relationship between the business profiles of groups and their economic feasibility.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is defined by terms such as Self-Help Groups, microfinance, women empowerment, economic fortification, financial inclusion, and rural entrepreneurship.
How does the book address the role of training for SHG members?
The study analyzes training programs by assessing their duration, the organizations conducting them, and their outcomes in improving business efficiency, loan decision-making, and general management skills.
What does the research conclude about the business activities of the groups?
The study finds that while many groups are involved in diverse sectors, they face significant marketing constraints, such as competition with branded products and a lack of support, and offers suggestions for better branding and packing.
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- Dr. M. RajaRajeswari Senthil Kumar (Autor:in), 2016, The Progression of the Self Help Movement in India for Women, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/371217
