Empowerment of women through self help groups: a case study of dakshina kannada district, Karnataka India

Women represent half of the world's production; they constitute significant a part in a household as well as in the economy as they perform triple role, i.e., reproduction, domestic labour and productive labour. Further, their contribution for household basic needs in times of economic crisis goes upto hundred percent. In spite several developmental and constitutional efforts, a large proportion of women, especially in rural areas continues to be marginalized and deprived of accessing basic services and thereby building their capacity to take pro-active role in rural development. After a series of efforts and strategies micro-finance through self help groups (SHG's) has been working as a powerful tool to fight poverty became the effective approach of women empowerment. Against this background, the present study made an attempt to compare the performance of different promoters, social groups and income groups and draw correct policy suggestions for sustaining the reduction in poverty through empowerment. Keeping these issues in mind, the present study is designed with objectives of examining the impact of Self Help Groups on economic and social empowerment of women and offer policy suggestions for sustaining women's empowerment through self help groups. The primary data were collected by canvassing the structured interview schedule for the sample households of 240 in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka State. It is found that a larger proportion of SHG members have actively taken part in economic and social domains of their life. In spite several intricacies in the process, NGO has been more successful in mobilizing the women members and building their economic and social empowerment of them and thereby bringing them on to mainstream development of the rural economy.