SELF HELP GROUP AS AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY AND DOABLE APPROACH TO EMPOWER WOMEN IN INDIA
Prof. D.Sambangi
Head, Department of Social Work, Kodaikanal Christian College, Tamil Nadu, India
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THE WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
Empowerment is a process of awareness and capacity building leading to greater participation, to greater decision making power and control and transformative action. Empowerment of women signifies harnessing women power by conscientising their tremendous potential and encouraging them to work towards attaining a dignified and satisfying way of life through confidence and competence as person with self-respect, rights and responsibilities. Empowerment as a concept was introduced at the International Women’s Conference at Nairobi in 1985. The conference defined empowerment as “A redistribution of social power and control of resources in favour of women. Empowerment is a multi-faceted process which encompasses many aspects i.e. enhancing awareness, increasing access to resources of economic, social and political etc.”1 In recent years women empowerment has become a subject of great concern for the nations all over the world especially in poor and developing countries. The impact of globalization is seen eventually on position of women in some form or other in most of the developing countries with the variation of degree. The United Nations has also strived hard in an incredible way to draw the due attention of the World Community on this issue in the past years.
(1. International Women’s Conference held at Nairobi in the year 1985)
SHG AS AN INEXORABLE WAY TO EMPOWER WOMEN-RATIONALE
One has to believe that the progress of any nation is inevitably linked with social and economical plight of women in that particular country. For concrete results, we have to assert and act with our full might and what is needed most. Empowerment by way of participation in SHG can bring enviable changes and enhancement in the living conditions of women in poor and developing nations.. Self Help Group (SHG) is a process by which a group of 10 – 20 women with common objectives are facilitated to come together voluntarily to participate in the development activities such as saving, credit and income generation thereby ensuring economic independence. The principles underlying the SHGs are financing the poorest of the poor, and achieving holistic empowerment. SHG phenomenon certainly brings group consciousness among women, sense of belonging, adequate self confidence. What she cannot achieve as an individual, can accomplish as a member of group with sufficient understanding about her own rights, privileges, roles and responsibilities as a dignified member of society in par with man. When she becomes a member of SHG, her sense of public participation, enlarged horizon of social activities, high self-esteem, self-respect and fulfillment in life expands and enhances the quality of status of women as participants, decision makers and beneficiaries in the democratic, economic social and cultural spheres of life. Thus undoubtedly SHG can be an effective instrument to empower women socially and economically by which the implication on the overall development of women is indisputably possible particularly for a country like India wherein still large segment of women population are underprivileged, illiterate, exploited and deprived of basic rights of social and economic spectrum.
The experiences of SHGs in many countries have been proving great success as an effective strategy and approach in recent years. Group-oriented efforts in the form of Micro-credit groups in different countries of Latin America, Africa and Asia are examples of current self-help efforts. The grameen groups in Bangladesh ,Local self-help development efforts – harambee (Thomas, 1985) in Kenya , Tontines or Hui with 10 to15 members involved in financial activities through cash or kind in Vietnam,self help efforts through credit unions, fishermen groups, village-based banks, irrigation groups etc (Gaonkar, 2004 ) in Indonesia , the self-help groups (SHGs) in countries like Thailand, Nepal, and Sri Lanka and India are successfully proving forms of micro-credit groups or SHGs.
THE PROBLEMS OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN INDIA
The Constitution of India guarantees equality, liberty and dignity to the women of India. The Fundamental Rights, The Directive principles of State Policy and Fundamental Duties etc virtually assure equal status to women and provide special protection. After independence, a gamut of laws have been passed and some have been altered so as to award equal share to women in property as well as to eradicate some of the injustices meted out to women. However there are many shortcomings and ambiguities in the enforcement of laws. As a result of this, the evil of dowry continues in spite of the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961. Sati Prevention Act was passed in 1987 but glorification of sati continues in the state of Rajasthan. Immoral Traffic Prevention Act was passed in 1956 but does not prohibit prostitution altogether. Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1975 has led to amniocentesis and female foeticide . It is believed that 78,000 female foeticide are done every year in India.. Indecent Representation of women’s Protection Act was passed in 1986 but the media still continues to project women as sex objects . Suitable changes in the Indian Penal code, Code of Criminal Procedures and the Indian Evidence Act have been made especially for the offence of rape, but judicial process and perception continue to be heavily weighed against victims of rape. Some of the labour laws are never enforced and some enforced in a mutilated form. In spite of the Equal Remuneration Act 1976, there is discrimination in promotion, training and transfer on the basis of sex. By and large undoubtedly more than six decades of efforts since Independence by the government and spell of fights and struggle under the immense pressure of women lib activists in the country have indeed brought certain changes in social, psychological and economic and political spheres of life. Consequently it becomes an imperative need to look into problems and issues and their implications upon underprivileged women thereby to explore appropriate strategies and approaches uplifting women in all spheres of life in India.
THE GENESIS AND GROWTH OF SHGS IN INDIA
The Self Help Group (SHG) in India has come a long way, since its inception in 1992. The spread of SHGs in India has been phenomenal. It has made dramatic progress from 500 groups in 1992 (Titus 2002) to some 16, 18,456 groups that have taken loans from banks. About 24.25 million poor households have gained access to formal banking system through SHG-bank linkage programme and 90% of these groups are only women groups (NABARD2005)2. The NABARD(2006)3 homepage declares that more than 400 women join the SHG movement every hour and an NGO joins the Micro-Finance Programme every day. There are also agencies which provide bulk funds to the system through NGOs. Thus organizations engaged in micro finance activities in India may be categorized as Wholesalers, NGOs supporting, SHG Federations and NGOs directly retailing credit borrowers or groups of borrower. The spread of the SHGs is highly concentrated in the southern part of the country with very few in the north and the east. Over half a million SHGs have been linked to banks over the years but a handful of States, mostly in South India, account for almost 60% of this figure (Harper 2002b, NABARD 2005:41). Andhra Pradesh has over 42%, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh have 12% and 11% respectively, and Karnataka has about 9% of the total SHGs (Chakrabarti, 2004). Since the advent of SHG in India, it’s growth rate has been very low in the states of Rajasthan, Bihar, Utter Pradesh , Madhya Pradesh , Orissa and union territory of Andaman Nicobar Islands where the status of women is still very backward and pathetic.
The SHGs have taken the form of a movement for women’s social development in India. In fact as a strategy for women’s development, they have arisen out of the perceived problem of women’s lack of access to resources at both the household and the village level. Women’s development has gone beyond the economic dimension and place emphasis on issues relating to equality, autonomy and self reliance at the individual level and on solidarity of the community (of women) at the group level (Hardiman & Midgley 1982, Dube 1988, Pieterse 2001). As a group-oriented model, SHGs in India is a mechanism for women’s development to bring in individual and collective empowerment through improvement in both ‘condition’ and ‘position’ of women. Women are organized as collectives towards the overall goal of achieving gender equality as well as sustainable,Comprehensive community development (Purushothaman1998:80). Unlike the self-help projects in Kenya, the SHGs in India are primarily micro-credit groups and the direct objective of micro-credit is to improve the ‘condition’ of women. Women in India are mobilized to protest against domestic violence, legal discrimination, rising prices, dowry,Prohibition of liquor, rape, child marriage, female infanticide, sexual abuse, domestic violence, male alcoholism and so on. In dealing with women’s strategic interests, women participate in collective activities through SHGs to address these strategic needs. In the process, it aims to empower women with several forms of power. Hence a study on Empowerment of rural women through SHG in Vellore District, Tamil Nadu, South India
A STUDY ON EMPOWERMENT OF RURAL WOMEN THROUGH SHG IN VELLORE DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, SOUTH INDIA
The objectives of the study: The main objectives are a) to understand and analyze psychological, social and economical benefits accrued by women participating in SHGs and b) to explore the merits of SHGs as strategy and approach to empower women in India.
Nature of the study: The study is a descriptive in nature as it has attempted to describe the psychological, social and economic benefits enjoyed by the members by participating in self help groups. T
Data Base: The information collected directly by the researcher from 100 respondents’ form as primary data and other details collected from text books, reports, websites etc form as secondary data.
Sampling and Tools: This micro –level study was conducted among women of 20 Self-Help Groups which have completed 5 years. A total of 100 women (members of SHGs)
were selected comprising four persons randomly from every group and one animator from each group purposively. Interview schedule was utilized as a tool of data collection as most of the respondents were semi –literate.
Place of study: This study was conducted in three villages i.e. Ariyur Village, Ariyur Colony , Chitheri and Avarampalayam Village of Vellore Panchayat Union , Vellore District , Tamil Nadu,South India.
THE MAIN FINDINGS OF THE STUDY
Psychological Empowerment : The participation of women in SHGs enables them to acquire inimitable psychological benefits to rise up psychologically powerful which is an essence for women empowerment in any socio-cultural and economic environment and situations. The respondents of the present study have accrued various psychological benefits including self awareness, high self esteem, self confidence and courage , understanding about own rights, privileges, roles and responsibilities, power of self determination , Positive attitude , Risk taking ability , Power to face challenges of daily life, gaining knowledge and new ideas and skills, great relief from mental stress and anxiety, leading a happy and satisfied life and so on. Out of 100 respondents 75 percent had got self awareness gaining adequate understanding about strength and weakness of self to reasonable extent. About 82 percent had developed a high level of self –Esteem. 69 percent of the respondents had obtained enough Self – Confidence and Courage. SHGs had given enough exposure for about 89 percent of the respondents to understand about their own rights, previleges, roles and responsibilities. The power of self-determination had tremendously improved among 70 percent of respondents. The positive attitude about life and society had come to more than 65 percent of the respondents. The risk taking ability had developed among 55 percent of respondents. The SHGs had enhanced the power to face challenges of daily life for 63 percent of the respondents. Through participation in SHGs 67 percent had got General Knowledge, New ideas and communication skills. The four fifth of the respondents i.e. 80 percent had great relief from mental stress and anxiety due to group moral support and comfort. The majority of the respondents (73 percent) were able to lead happy and satisfied life due to participation in SHGs
Social Empowerment: The women who participate in SHGs garner a lot of social benefits including awareness about society and existing social problems, good recognition and image in the family and community, role in family decision making on important matters, plan and promote better education for their children, Able to take care of health for children and aged. participation in public and political life, chance to serve the community including fighting for the basic amenities and welfare needs of village community such as safe drinking water, street light, public sanitation etc, chance to help weaker section like aged and differently abled, able to resist social evils like dowry, violence against women, gender discrimination and other social injustice in the family as well community , sense of responsibility for collective action and solidarity etc. Out of 100 respondents 83 percent got awareness about their own community and society in general. About 79 percent enjoyed considerable recognition and good image in the family and community after joining SHGs. Nearly 65 percent had the privilege to participate in family decision making process on important matters. 57 percent of the respondents were able to contribute for the education of their children. More than 60 percent of the respondents were able to take care of health of the children and aged in the family. For half of the respondents SHGs provided opportunities to participate in public and political life. 75 percent of the women had the chance to serve their own community including fighting for the basic amenities and welfare needs of village community such as safe drinking water, street light, public sanitation etc. One fourth of the women ( 25 percent ) got chance to help aged and disabled in the community. More than two third ( 72 percent) able to resist social evils like dowry, violence against women, gender discrimination and other social injustice in the family as well community. About 60 percent of the respondents felt that they had sense of responsibility for solidarity and collective action.
Economic Empowerment : The members of SHGs are really privileged to enjoy many economic benefits including saving, liberation from debt trap, economic independence , economic skills for income generation, able to contribute for education of children , able to meet the healthcare needs, accumulate economic assets including house, land , jewels other valuable things, economically strong to meet unexpected financial challenges and so on. All the respondents were able to save reasonable amount for safety and security. For more than 60 percent of the respondents were able to liberate their families from the debt trap. About 71 percent of them attained economic independence to greater extent and able to contribute towards prosperity of the family, More than half of the respondents (58 percent) had acquired some economic skills or other with help of SHGs for income generation or additional income, 69 percent of the respondents were in a position to contribute for education of children and healthcare needs of the family with help of saving, 38 percent had accumulated economic assets including house, land, jewels other valuable things. Majority of the respondents (78 percent) felt economically strong enough to meet unexpected financial challenges being as members of SHGs with help of saving.
THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY
The outcome of the study clearly indicates that the majority of women who constituted as respondents for the present study, being members of SHGs have benefitted considerably in terms of psychological, social and economic development. Women participation in SHG have obviously created tremendous impact upon the life pattern and style of poor women especially in rural areas and empowered them at various level not only as individual also as member of family, member of community and society as whole. It can be concluded that the SHG strategy is undoubtedly a convivial experiment for women empowerment in India as it opens up flood gates of opportunities to enhance capacities and capabilities in their development and growth in total perspective. It is evident from the study undertaken by the researcher that women particularly in rural, tribal and slum areas can be empowered psychologically, socially and economically with the concerted application of SHG as an effective strategy and doable approach. It is also understood from the study that Indian women have adequate potential sparks which can be well fanned into flames with necessary guidance and training through SHGs thereby bringing them to live in par with men in all spheres of human life in our society. Therefore as a group-oriented model, SHGs in India can be evolved as mechanism or movement for women’s development to bring in individual and collective empowerment through improvement in both ‘condition’ and ‘position’ of women in India or else where the plight of women is miserable and pitiable.s
Suggestions and Recommendations
The following suggestions and recommendations have been made based on the findings of the study and also in the interest of welfare women of India in general
The Concerted efforts should be made to form SHGs for women as much as possible in rural and tribal villages and slums to uplift womenfolk particularly in very backward states and Union territories by government agencies, Educational Institutions, NGOs and other service organizations of civil societies.
Government both state and Central should work hand- in -hand to promote the concept of SHG without political biasness and selfish motives taking into account the welfare of the womenfolk in general by incorporating as an important strategy for women empowerment in the national policy and allocating more grant in the budget and developing effective implementing machinery.
NGOs, Educational Institutions and Social Service organizations etc engaged in the works of promotion and development of SHGs should be encouraged at all levels with sufficient financial grants and appreciation and awards
Conducive atmosphere and harmonious network should be established among Government Agencies, Banks, Ngos , Other service organizations for effective functioning of SHGs to avoid overlapping and duplications.
Banks and other financial institutions should work with open-mind and service motives to promote SHG among women particularly downtrodden communities like scheduled caste and scheduled tribes, marginalized groups in order bring them into main stream of development and growth of India
SHGs should be strictly encouraged to undertake economic activities /income generating activities for sustainable income to the group.
SHG can be encouraged to form cooperative societies to promote Village, Cottage and Other industries for which raw materials and resources available abundantly in and around rural and tribal areas
SHG may be encouraged to involve in manufacturing products such as electronic and electrical goods, readymade garments , handicrafts to fetch market in Third –World countries ,European countries, USA and Latin American countries
In order to promote SHGs for women empowerment Mass media such New papers, TV , radio etc can play a significant role by creating awareness in the public and also among women about the merits of SHGs by publishing success stories of SHGs ,case studies, achievment of NGOs and Governemtn efforts etc
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