Welcome to JJEM: A Multi-Disicplinary Journal of JNNCE, Shimoga |
Sumitha P.V, M. G. Krishnamurthy
Women’s empowerment is a global issue attracting the attention of researchers. Empowerment is a term widely used in the context of women who are equal partners in development of the society and the nation. Microfinance programs like the Self Help Bank Linkage Program in India, have been increasingly promoted for their positive economic impact and the belief that they empower women. The empowerment of rural women through SHGs would give benefits not only to the individual women but also for the family and community as a whole by means of collective action for development. The present study is conducted in Kotekar, Beeri rural development block under Dakshina Kannada district. From a list of 98 SHGs linked with the Syndicate bank of Kotekar branch belonging to Mangalore Taluk, a total of 10 SHG’s were randomly chosen. A total of 80 women belonging to these selected 10 SHGs were interviewed personally on structured questionnaire. The study revealed characteristic features of women’s empowerment which was evident in form of increase in income level, improvement in skills and knowledge and increased capacity to meet daily household expenses. The study reveals that women members of SHGs are empowered but majority of the respondents exhibited medium level of empowerment.
Self Help Groups (SHGs), Women, Empowerment, Microfinance.