A study on “Role of Self Help Group’s in Woman Empowerment”
(A special reference to STEP project of dairy Co-operative societies which is farmed with women SHG)
Nalla Vivekanand1, Dr. A. Velayudham2
1VTDCMPU Ltd (AAVIN), Vellore Tamil Nadu
2Professor, Department of Psychology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore Tamil Nadu
*Corresponding Author Email: nallajersey@gmail.com, avelayudham@rediffmail.com
ABSTRACT:
The self help group replica which became popular in India, and gathered an enormous response, in rural woman empowerment through various project initiatives of the government agencies, which are appreciate and recognized. The impact of self help groups in many districts which provide an employment and facilitate them to run their day to day life without interruption. Dairy cooperatives have provided fillip to the rural women their deserving share. SHGs can enhance the equality of rural women status as participants, decision-makers and beneficiaries in the democratic, economic, social and cultural spheres of life.
KEYWORDS: WSHG, empowerment, economic, social, political, social, psychological, legal, health and community.
INTRODUCTION:
Self help group is a model which is giving an opportunity for women more empowerment, in terms of well being and economic independence through self employment and entrepreneurial development. Economic independence makes the woman more confident and increases the self esteem. Rural woman in India is facing poverty and unemployment is the major problem. In India at the end of ninth five year span 26.1 percent of the population was living below poverty line. In the rural area 27.1 percent of the population was living under poverty. The overall unemployment rate is estimated to 7.32 percent. The female unemployment rate is 8.5 percent. The rate of growth of women unemployment in the rural area is 9.8 percent.
This is because of the low growth rate of new and productive employment. Government has implemented various schemes to reduce poverty and to promote the gainful employment.
But the more attractive scheme with less effort (finance) is “Self Help Group”. It is a best tool to remove poverty and improve the rural woman life through dairy farming.
Apart from this rural woman is faced with different challenges and hurdles, like personal, family, supervision, corresponding work and obstacles, woman’s isolation into lower-paid work, the disparity of pay between men & women, the feminization of poor quality of life, and added brutality against women. The above said all unfair practices from all sides putting the woman under psychological depression, so she is unable to move towards personal development. If it cannot avoid conflict, harmony situations, the above said hurdles need to be understood at a deep level of rural woman’s ability to adopt. Accessible approach and mechanism need for success in this order.
SHG’s philosophy:
A SHG is a small economically homogeneous affinity group of the rural poor voluntarily coming together to save small amount regularly, which are deposited in a common fund to meet members emergency needs and to provide collateral free loans decided by the group. (Abhas Kumar Jha 2000). They have been recognized as useful tool to help the poor and as an alternative mechanism to meet the urgent credit needs of poor through thrift (Rao 2002), SHG is a media for the development of saving habit among the women (Rajamohan 2003).
Empowering Women through women’s cooperative societies:
Cooperation is human instinct and crucial from the civilization. To take cooperation from fellow members is the need of an individual and consequently to offer cooperation is quid pro quo, cooperation is recurring cyclical informal practice society is doing since ages. Cooperatives have empowered women through its economic activities. Generally politically & socially sidelined women are factually full time engaged in farm & dairy activities. Rural woman Empowerment cannot be possible with enthusiasm and, confidence of woman, which can built up by SHGs, when women can fight against injustice and unsecure rights and help to self-empower themselves.
Community chattels of Dairy Co-operatives:
(Jayachandra and Naidu, 2006) have studied the impact of dairy co-operatives on income, employment and creation of assets of marginal and small farmers in Rangampet milk producer co-operative society (Chittor DT, Andhra Pradesh). The study had identified significant increase in income, among marginal and small farmers after joining the dairy farming through the co-operative society. Farmers have been able to get new (full-time and part time) employment opportunities through dairying. The values of their assets have also increased after engaging in dairy activity. The findings of the study has indicated that dairying offers a vast scope for increasing the income, employment opportunities, and assets value of marginal and small farmers whose marginal and average productivity is low and dairying could be identified as an appropriate and beneficial occupation to increase the purchasing power of rural farmers.
Indian Rural woman traditionally associate with agriculture and dairying, nearly 70 % households keep animals a part of regular income, which take care by the woman, Dairy production is an important income source of an integral part of crop live stock production.
The dairy industry is one of the best suitable tools to empower the millions rural women, who can be brought into the mainstream of dairy development, with access to training and employment at the household level, and their economic well-being and self esteem empowerment. The women’s need to access training in modern dairying and cooperative management system is essential.
Research verification in literature:
A research review of the literature has given insights on various aspects of the role of self help groups on women empowerment. Even though the concept of women empowerment through women self help groups is relatively new, the academic community has shown substantial interest by exploring the extent to which such groups facilitate women empowerment. However, the concept of empowerment with its varied definitions processes and outcome does not have a systematic procedure to be measurable. There have been a number of attempts to conceptualize empowerment and various authors have proposed different frameworks. The domains by which empowerment can be measured has of late gained some unanimity; however, is not exhaustive and different frameworks propose additional domain which perhaps might then include new avenues.
The field of women empowerment in modern societies has gained critical significance even more so in developing nations of the world. There have been systematic efforts from various agencies and governments of the world to empower women, however whether such efforts can be victorious in bringing about a significant alter inside the plight of women across the world cannot be objectively assessed for lack of clarity of domains as well as a systematic process of woman empowerment programs.
Thus, empowerment of women is not a one-way process; empowerment involves both, where women are being empowered and where women empower others. Women by being agents of change-to-change in their own plight have great significance; it’s not only for women but also for societies as a whole and future generation. Economic and social empowerment have been widely studied and been reported. The role of psychological domain gains much significance as it has a property to influence all other domains as well as affects the comfort and excellence of existence of individual woman.
Data Resources:
The research work was carried out at Dairy Extension Department and Department of Procurement (Aavin Dairy Vellore), VTDCMUPU LTD VELLORE-Tamilnadu.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:
I. To assess the extent to which psychological factors such as self-efficacy, self-esteem and general well-being has improved among women self help group members after joining the self help group.
II. To determine whether membership in self help groups facilitate improvements in key discriminating psychosocial factors such as self-efficacy, self-esteem and general well-being in comparison to the non-members.
III. To determine whether membership in self help groups facilitate improvements in various facets of empowerment by comparing self help group member with non members.
NEED FOR THE STUDY:
“Educate a man and you educate an individual; educate a woman and she educate a family”
Women by being agents of change-to-change their own plight have great significance not only for women themselves but also for societies as a whole and future generation. Economic and Social empowerment have been widely studied and been reported. The role of psychological domain gains much significance, as it has a property to influence all other domains as well as effects, the individual well-being, and quality of women.
METHODOLOGY:
As this paper seeks to explore how SHG’s are relatively works in co-op societies.
Study Design:
Targeting women, self help group members working in dairy cooperative societies. With a purpose to identify the extent to which membership and working in such self help groups facilitate improvements in their self-esteem, self-efficacy, general well-being and domains of empowerment an experimental group of 70 women SHG members were compared with a group of 70 non SHG members across two points of time.
To assess in their self-esteem, self-efficacy, and general well-being and empowerment domains such as education, social awareness, political participation, psychological strength, legal knowledge, health knowledge, economic improvement and community services.
It was intended to examine the improvements in the level of psychological factors under investigation after five years of joining an SHG and compare it with non-SHG members.
TABLE-1: Demographic characteristics of women self help group members and matched controls.
Demographic / Group |
Category |
frequency |
Percentage |
Age |
|
|
|
Self-help Group |
Below 30 years |
19 |
27.14 |
|
31-40 |
18 |
25.71 |
|
Above 40 |
33 |
47.14 |
Control Group |
Below 30 years |
20 |
28.57 |
|
31-40 |
20 |
28.57 |
|
Above 40 |
30 |
42.86 |
Marital Status |
|
|
|
Self-help Group |
Married |
66 |
94.29 |
|
Single |
4 |
5.71 |
Control Group |
Married |
68 |
97.14 |
|
Single |
2 |
2.86 |
Education |
|
|
|
Self-help Group |
Illiterate |
19 |
27.14 |
|
Literate |
51 |
72.85 |
Control Group |
Illiterate |
20 |
28.57 |
|
Literate |
50 |
71.43 |
Family Type |
|
|
|
Self-help Group |
Joint |
21 |
30.00 |
|
Nuclear |
49 |
70.00 |
Control Group |
Joint |
15 |
21.43 |
|
Nuclear |
55 |
78.57 |
Community |
|
|
|
Self-help Group |
SC |
20 |
28.57 |
|
ST |
12 |
17.14 |
|
BC and Others |
38 |
54.29 |
Control Group |
SC |
16 |
22.86 |
|
ST |
8 |
11.43 |
|
BC and Others |
46 |
65.71 |
TABLE-2: Descriptive Statistics for the Two Groups on Self-Esteem, Self-Efficacy and General Well-Being of woman.
Variable / Group |
N |
Mean SD |
Self-esteem |
|
|
Self-help Group |
70 |
17.49 2.84 |
Control Group |
70 |
18.64 2.46 |
Self-efficacy |
|
|
Self-Help Group |
70 |
24.96 2.95 |
Control Group |
70 |
25.34 2.04 |
General Well-Being |
|
|
Self-help Group |
70 |
8.01 .94 |
Control Group |
70 |
7.79 1.04 |
TABLE 2A: Analysis of well being levels
Therefore, no such change was observed in well-being levels, which indicate that actual change in emotions and behaviour was not observed. It might be then fair to infer that it might take the time to translate perceptions to action.
TABLE-3: Comparison of the SHG and Control Group on Education:
Group |
Education Improved |
Total |
||
No |
Yes |
|||
Self-Help Group |
Count |
5 |
65 |
70 |
% within Group |
7.1% |
92.9% |
100.0% |
|
Control Group |
Count |
63 |
7 |
70 |
% within Group |
90.0% |
10.0% |
100.0% |
The number of women who felt their education status has improved was significantly greater in the SHG than the control group. Members of the SHG would have improved on their level of education from Time to Time 2 or after joining the SHG at the least by attaining literacy status.
TABLE-4: Comparison of the SHG and Control Group on Social status:
Group |
|
Social Status Improved |
Total |
|
No |
Yes |
|||
Self-help Group |
Count |
16 |
54 |
70 |
% within Group |
22.9% |
77.1% |
100.0% |
|
Control Group |
Count |
52 |
18 |
70 |
% within Group |
74.3% |
25.7% |
100.0% |
The members perceived their social status improved in comparison to those who had not joined a self help group. Access to credit, increased social interaction, better revenue, employment opportunities, better savings habit and better status in the family would have contributed to the improvements in social status.
TABLE-5: Comparison of the SHG and Control Group on Political Participation
Group |
|
Political Participation Improved |
Total |
|
No |
Yes |
|||
Self-help Group |
Count |
45 |
25 |
70 |
% within Group |
64.3% |
35.7% |
100.0% |
|
Control Group |
Count |
51 |
19 |
70 |
% within Group |
72.9% |
27.1% |
100.0% |
The number of women who felt their political participation has improved was similar in both the SHG and the control group. Women SHG members might not have gained any political roles, even at the local body levels nor any specific leadership roles. This might require more time and sufficient social backing to play a significant political role.
TABLE-6: Comparison of the SHG and Control Group on Psychological Strength
Group |
|
Psychological Strength Improved |
Total |
|
No |
Yes |
|||
Self-help Group |
Count |
27 |
43 |
70 |
% within Group |
38.6% |
61.4% |
100.0% |
|
Control Group |
Count |
47 |
23 |
70 |
% within Group |
67.1% |
32.9% |
100.0% |
The number of women who felt their psychological strength has improved was significantly greater in the SHG than the control group. The improvements in Psychological Strength might be due to the improvements in employability skill, better social interaction, the ability to save, feelings of confidence, better status, and acceptance in family and community.
TABLE-7: Comparison of the SHG and Control Group on Legal Knowledge
Group |
|
Legal Knowledge Improved |
Total |
|
No |
Yes |
|||
Self-help Group |
Count |
34 |
36 |
70 |
% within Group |
48.6% |
51.4% |
100.0% |
|
Control Group |
Count |
52 |
18 |
70 |
% within Group |
74.3% |
25.7% |
100.0% |
The number of woman who felt their legal knowledge has improved was significantly greater in the SHG than the control group. It might be because NGOs provide frequent training with regard to various legal acts to SHG members. Moreover, training and better social interaction would have facilitated knowledge about various legislations and acts such as dowry domestic violence, women’s rights, child marriage, etc.
TABLE-8: Comparison of the SHG and Control Group on Health Knowledge
Group |
|
Health Knowledge Improved |
Total |
|
No |
Yes |
|||
Self-help Group |
Count |
25 |
45 |
70 |
% within Group |
35.7% |
64.3% |
100.0% |
|
Control Group |
Count |
52 |
18 |
70 |
% within Group |
74.3% |
25.7% |
100.0% |
The number of women who felt their health knowledge has improved was significantly greater in the SHG than the control group. Frequent interactions with other members of the community, access to health services through SHGs, training and education on health related matters would have enabled SHG members to perceive that they have improved with regard to Health Knowledge.
TABLE-9: Comparison of the SHG and Control Group for Community Service
Group |
|
Community Service, Improved |
Total |
|
No |
Yes |
|||
Self-Help Group |
Count |
18 |
52 |
70 |
% within Group |
25.7% |
74.3% |
100.0% |
|
Control Group |
Count |
50 |
20 |
70 |
% within Group |
71.4% |
28.6% |
100.0% |
The number of women who felt their community service has improved was significantly greater in the SHG than the control group. SHGs facilitate participation in community services such as rural sanitization, alcohol prohibition, watershed projects and, protesting and acting against child labor. Moreover, engaging in such activities significantly improve SHG member acceptance in the community and society.
TABLE-10 Comparison of the SHG and Control Group on Economic Status
Group |
Economic Status Improved |
Total |
||
No |
Yes |
|||
Self-help Group |
Count |
9 |
61 |
70 |
% within Group |
12.9% |
87.1% |
100.0% |
|
Control Group |
Count |
54 |
16 |
70 |
% within Group |
77.1% |
22.9% |
100.0% |
The number of women who felt their economic status has improved was significantly greater in the SHG than the control group. SHGs provide access to micro credit either from their own credit pool or by acting as a go in between members and banks. It would have also facilitated more employment opportunities among its members, improved the employability skills of the members. It would have also contributed to members developing the habit of savings. All of these would have those enabled SHG members to feel that they have improved economically after joining the Self Help Groups.
CONCLUSION:
It is found that the income of the women has been increased after joining in the SHGs, as well as after joining in dairy society, and gained good knowledge and money management. Considerable improvement is found in dairy activities, capacity building and other skill development activates through training. Similarly the monthly household expenditure also has been raised in considerable level. But the savings is increasing at slow rate, because the incremental expenditure is higher. Mostly they are spending for present consumption needs. Since the repayment of loan is regular, and within the time frame, that the economic activities of SHGs are quite success. In this way SHGs in north Tamil Nadu are very successful to develop women empowerment and rural areas.
The self help groups played a significant role, in improving educational status, social status, psychological strength, legal knowledge, health knowledge, community service and economic status domains of empowerment. This finding was a result of the comparison of the self help group members’ perception of empowerment with the matched control group members’ perception of empowerment at a time. In any rural woman empowerment schemes, woman needs more involvement with awareness of their rights and opportunities.
On the whole of this study confirms that women’s status is inferior to men. Women face discrimination within families as well as in society, where society maintains double standards in the case of education, marriage, spousal relationships, domestic violence, laws of patriarchal society, property laws, dowry system, sexual morality, sexual harassment as well as discriminatory social stigma and also less recognition and respect for women’s work.
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Received on 06.11.2017 Modified on 07.12.2017
Accepted on 01.02.2018 ©A&V Publications All right reserved
Res. J. Humanities and Social Sciences. 2018; 9(2): 391-397.
DOI: 10.5958/2321-5828.2018.00067.0