Int. J. Reviews and Research in Social Sci. 2(1): Jan.

-March 2014

www.anvpublication.org

ISSN 2347-5145
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Role of Self Help Groups (SHGS) in Empowerment of Women in District

Bandipora of Jammu and Kashmir
Dr. Shazia Manzoor1, Zahoor Ahmad Ganie2
1

Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Jammu and Kashmir, India
2
Research Scholar, Department of Social Work, University of Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir, India
*Corresponding Author E-mail: zahoor_1057@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT:
In the changed context of rural development, there is more emphasis on sustainable development and empowerment of
women in India which demand micro credit. Empower the women in social, political, economical and legal aspects
became necessary to convert the idle society into self-sustainable society. Self-Help Groups is considered as one
important means for bringing women to the forefront of the society. By the formation of SHGs, credits are demanded
for various purposes (domestic, health, festivals, repayment of old debts, investment, etc.). Similarly different
economic activities (collection, processing and marketing of products, individual business, dairy etc.) are undertaken
by the SHG members after joining the group. Habits of savings, economic independence, self confidence, social
cohesion, asset ownership, freedom from debt, additional employment, etc. benefits are derived by the SHG members
Keeping these issues in mind, the present study is designed with objectives of examining the Role of Self Help Groups
on economic, social and Political empowerment of women and offer policy suggestions for sustaining womens
empowerment through self help groups.

KEY WORDS: Empowerment, Credit, Debit, Sustainable Development

INTRODUCTION:
Women Empowerment refers to increasing the political,
social or economic strength of Women. The most common
explanation of Womens Empowerment is the ability to
excise full control over ones actions. (Narayan, 2002). The
empowerment of women occurs in reality, when women
achieve increased control and participation in decision
making that leads to their better access to resources it often
involves the empowered developing confidence in their
own capacities. The growing social awareness across the
globe has brought a number of issues to the fore among
which gender equality and empowerment of women are
very significant. In traditional societies the need of
empowerment is immense. Empowerment is a multidimensional process, which should enable women or group
of women to realize their full identity and power in all
spheres of life.

Received on 15.03.2014
Accepted on 23.03.2014

Modified on 18.03.2014
A&V Publication all right reserved

Int. J. Rev. & Res. Social Sci. 2(1): Jan. Mar. 2014; Page 27-30

The empowerment occurs through a number of ways and

the SHG is one of the significant methods which ensure
overall empowerment of rural women. Self-Help Group is a
small voluntary association grouping of 10-20 members to
form a group which is a home grown model for poverty
reduction which simultaneously works to empower and
improve the lives of its members. (Shylendra, 1998) The
basic principles of the SHGs are group approach, mutual
trust, organization of small and manageable groups, group
cohesiveness, sprit of thrift, demand based lending,
collateral free, women friendly loan, peer group pressure in
repayment, skill training capacity building and
empowerment. (Kabeer, 1999).
Self Help Groups play an important role in empowering the
women in India. Self Help Groups through microfinance
has helped the rural women in transforming them from local
village Ladies in to Women entrepreneurs. The SHG's act
as a support group developing courage and offering mutual
solace and comfort to the members. (Rahman 1986) The
objectives of the SHGs go beyond thrift and credit and
include the overall development of members in the social,

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Int. J. Reviews and Research in Social Sci. 2(1): Jan.-March 2014

political, cultural and economic arena; thus the SHGs are

according to Fernandez credit plus movement (Fernandez;
1998). However, in recent years, there have been various
critiques and conflicting conclusions about the potential of
SHG in empowering women. In spite of this, Self-Help
Group is considering as a movement that economically,
socially and politically empowers women.
Seif help Groups in the Study Area
Bandipora district is one of the 22 districts in Jammu and
Kashmir state in northern India. This district was carved out
from the erstwhile Baramulla District in 2007. The district
is bounded by Kupwara district in the west, Baramulla
District in the south and Kargil, Srinagar and Ganderbal
districts in the east. This district occupies an area of
398 km. The district of Bandipora comprises of one
subdivision, three tehsils and five C.D. Blocks. This is one
of the backward districts of Jammu and Kashmir. As per
2011 census Bandipora has a population of 3,041,038 of
which male and female were 1,528,308 and 1,512,730
respectively. In Jammu and Kashmir the formation of SHGs
were started in 1999. Since 1999, There are 414 SHGs
formed in Bandipora district of which 396 are women self
help Groups. (Annexure I) The SHGs selected for the
present study had been confined to women SHGs in the
Bandipora District of Jammu and Kashmir. The SHG
concept In Jammu and Kashmir state
has flourished
extensively but in district Bandipora it has been quite
slower.

2.

3.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
The study was based on survey research design covering
bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir to provide a
comprehensive picture of the status of SHGs for
empowering women in the district bandipora. It is
noteworthy to mention here that the Self-Help Groups in
district Bandipora are promoted by NGOs as well as
Government agencies. Due to time constraint the researcher
has selected the SHGs promoted by Government
organisation i.e., District Rural Development Authority. At
present DRDA is working in 5 community development
blocks namely Bandipora, Gurez, Hajin, Sumbal, Tulail
There are 416 Self-Help Groups promoted by DRDA in the
five blocks. The SHGs have been selected by using
convenience sampling technique. A sample of 10 SHGs
from three community development blocks (Bandipora,
Hajin, Sumbal,) consisting of 150 members in which 50
members has been taken for the present study. In order to
collect and gather primary data, field observation and
structured questionnaire survey methods were employed. In
addition, information was also collected through
discussions and interviews with local NGOs and
governments grass roots level workers. Secondary data
gathered from the records of SHGs and NGOs and
government offices were supplemented by the primary data
collected from the group. Besides, different books,
newspapers, articles, journals, magazines and web sites
were also referred for the purpose.

Total Since 1/1/99

During the Current

Month Up to the
year

Total Since 1/1/99

During the Current

Month Up to the
year

No of Women
SHGs Formed

During the Current

Month Up to the
year

No of SHGs
taken
up
Economic
Activities

Total Since 1/1/99

SHGs
Grade

During the Current

Month Up to the
year

No of
Passed
2nd

Total Since 1/1/99

Bandipora
Hajin
Sumbal
Gurez
Tulail
Total

No of SHGs
Passed Grade 1st

To assess the structure and function of SHGs in

District Bandipora
To examine the impact of Self Help Groups on
economic, political and social empowerment of
women;
To find how participation of women in SHGs influence
their decision making capacity.

During the Current

Month Up to the
year

1
2
3
4
5

No of SHGs
Formed

1.

Total Since 1/1/99

Annexure -I
S.No
Name of
the Block

OBJECTIVES:

115
122
148
29
00
414

0
0
0
0
0
00

87
84
106
00
00
277

00
01
00
00
00
01

29
31
43
01
00
104

00
00
05
00
00
05

71
70
93
11
00
245

00
00
05
00
00
05

109
116
142
29
00
396

00
00
00
00
00
00

28

No
of
Women
SHGs
formed
taken up
activities
During
the Year

00
00
00
00
00
00

Int. J. Reviews and Research in Social Sci. 2(1): Jan.-March 2014

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

For measuring empowerment of women through SHGs A
wide range of information such as composition of
membership, savings mobilised, occupation, loan disbursed,
interest rates, recovery procedures, assets created, influence
over economic resources of the family, influence on
womens own development, influence over decision
pertaining to general welfare of the family and influence
over local political activities, external assistance received
etc. were ascertained from the SHGs and their members.
The analyses obtained from different blocks are compiled
and compared to draw the inferences about the performance
of the SHGs in the study area.
Table 1.1 Structures of SHGs in the Study Area
Item
Bandipora
Hajin
Membership
13.00
11.70
average (No.)
Savings per SHG
15000
12000
(in Rs.)
Loan (Avg.) (in Rs.) 19752
17177

Sumbal
12.50
11000
16040

Table1. 3 Income Generating activities initiated by SHG

members
Income generating activities started by SHG members. The
data in Table 1.3 give a picture of various income
generating activities (IGAs) undertaken by the members of
SHGs which were promoted by banks.
S.No
1
2
3

Income Generating
Activities
Diary
Crewel
Sozni

SHGs

Percentage

4
2
1

40
31
24

It can be seen from the table above that out to the total 10
members who have initiated different income generation
activities, 31.25 per cent had gone for Buffalo keeping
followed by Goat rearing and Vegetable selling reported by
25 percent of the respondents in each case. Similarly 18.75
percent of the respondents generated additional income
through sozni.

It can be visualised from the above Table1.1 that the Table 1. 4 Improvement in personal profile of SHG Members
S.
Personal Profile of SHG
Has
Not
average membership per SHG is 12.4. The study reveals
members
Improved Improved
that in the Bandipora block, the average membership of the No
1
Financial Position
55
45
Self-Help Groups is highest (13) and Hajin block had
2
Share in Family Income
70
30
lowest membership (11.70). Most of the members agreed
3
Role in Financial Decision
70
30
that their motives in joining SHGs were to save and to raise
Making
status in society is the prime reason for respondents joining
4
Assets holding Pattern
50
50
5
Confidence Level
67
33
the SHG, followed by to promote income generating
6
Decision Making about taking
55
45
activities. The average savings per SHG was Rs. 12,666. It
loan
varied from Rs. 11000 in Sumbal to Rs.15000 in bandipora
7
Mobility
40
60
block. The per member savings was around Rs. 400.
8
Acquisition Of technical Skills
45
55
9
Table 1.2 Profiles of SHG Members
Item
Bandipora
Age (years)
38
Literacy (%)
14
Occupation
Agriculture
92
(percentage)
Others
8
Income (Average)
5000

Hajin
36
11

Sumbal
37
9

Overall
37
11.33

95

97

94.66

5
4000

3
4500

5.33
4500

Decision making over issues of

family welfare

70

30

It can be visualized from Table 1. 4 that women are more

able to articulate their views and were able to command
attention and respect within the household, and often within
the community and also the financial position of majority
of SHGs members have improved to the considerable
extent. Similarly the women have developed confidence to
a great level by becoming the member of SHGs. One
important indicator of empowerment is the ability to make
decisions within the household. Many women interviewed
indicated that they could decide on spending their own
income, although men were often consulted. Many women
who generated increased income through self-help groups
reported that they had gained greater respect within the
household, often with perceptible attitudinal change. Men
have been reported to offer little resistance towards the
enhanced economic activity of women because such
activities were seen as contributing to household wellbeing.

The average age of SHG members in the study area is

presented in Table 1.2 it is observed that the average age of
SHG members was 37 years, lowest being 28 years in
Bandipora block and highest being 43 years in Sumbal
block. Educational background of the SHG members shows
that most of them are illiterate. Only 5 per cent of them
have studied up to Middle level. So far as the occupation of
the members are concerned, majority of them are engaged
in agricultural activities. As regards to average income per
SHG, it was around Rs. 4500. It was highest in Bandipora
block (Rs.5000) followed by sumbal block (Rs. 4500) and It is discouraging to note that assets holding pattern was
lowest in Hajin block (Rs. 4000).
improved for comparatively less number of members.

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Int. J. Reviews and Research in Social Sci. 2(1): Jan.-March 2014

Table 1. 5 Influence over local political activities
S.No
Political Activities
Percentage
Yes
No
1
Voting SHG and
95
05
parliamentary elections
2
Contesting SHG and Gram
5
75
Panchayat elections

REFERENCES:

It can be noted from Table 1.5 that influence of women

enhanced a lot in political activities due to their
membership in SHGs. It is evident from the data that 95 per
cent of the women gave positive response expressing
increase in their influence over gram Panchayat. Contrary to
this, the influence of women in contesting SHG and gram
Panchayat elections was discouraging which is reflected
from poor response in the Yes category of the table.

Table 2 Influence of SHG on Empowerment of Women

S.no
Category
Frequency
Percentage
1
Has Improved
46
55.20
2
Remained Same
30
45.80

Reddy, C. S and S. Manak (October 2005) , Self-Help Groups: A

Keystone of Microfinance in India, Women Empowerment
and Social Security.
Karl, M., (1995). Women and Empowerment: Participation and
Decision Making, Women and World Development Series,
United Nations, New York, NY.
Anju M, Sidney RS (2002). Measuring Womens Empowerment as a
Variable in International Development, World Bank Workshop
on Poverty and Gender: New Perspectives pp.10-50.
Rangi, P.S., Sindhu, M.S., and Harjit, Singh, (2002), Economic
empowerment of rural women through Self Help Groups: A
case study of Fategarh Sahib District (Punjab), Man and
development 24(3): 6578.
Yamuna G. (2007), Women Empowerment through Self-help Group
in Solamadevi Village, in V.S. Ganesamurthy (Ed), India:
Economic Empowerment, New Century Publications, New
Delhi.
Srinivasan (2002),Linking Self Help Groups with Banks in India,
Small enterprise Development, December, Vol.13, No.4, p.
47-57.
Kapoor, P. (2001), Empowering the Indian Women, Publications
Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,
Government of India.
Krishna, M. (2003), Poverty Alleviation and Rural Poor, 1st ed., New
Delhi: Mittal Publication.

For the present study, empowerment was categorized into

two namely has improved and remained same.
According to the findings presented in Table2, from the
total respondents 55.20 percent of them reported that they
were empowered after joining the SHGs while 45.80 per
cent of the respondents reported that there had been no
change in their position after joining the SHGs.

CONCLUSION:
Self Help Groups play an important role in empowering the
women in India. In the present study also SHGs had played
very important role in empowering women by strengthening
their earning ability, boosting their self-confidence and
promoting regular savings. Thus the participants had
economic security, easy credit accessibility, better decision
making in family, improved family environment, increased
mobility and improved political and legal knowledge. SHGs
had provided women a common platform to discuss and
solve their individual and community problems. But in
District Bandipora The performance of majority of the
SHGs in all the three blocks of district Bandipora was
Poor. Only a few of them are Good Thus, it is
concluded that the concept of SHGs for rural women
empowerment in district Bandipora has not yet run its full
course in attaining its objective. Further efforts in refining
group characteristics and realigning group objectives can
ensure furtherance of effectiveness of SHGs in translating
rural women into a more powerful section of the society.
Since this study was conducted on feasibility basis, samples
from wider geographical areas could have given us a better
picture of the District Bandipora. We recommend that
Women SHGs formation especially in marginalized
community of rural area should be encouraged; capacity
building of the members should be ensured. Govt. should
provide interest free/subsidised loan to SHG to help them
come out of poverty.

30