Socio-Economic Status of Rural Women of Self Help Groups: a Study of Dhaniakhali and Polba-Dadpur Blocks of Hooghly District, W.B
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NGJI, An International Peer-Reviewed Journal NGSI-BHU, ISSN: 0027-9374/2020/1738 Vol. 66, No. 2, June 2020 Socio-Economic Status of Rural Women of Self Help Groups: A Study of Dhaniakhali and Polba-Dadpur Blocks of Hooghly District, W.B. Saheli Kumar1 and Kaushalendra Prakash Goswami2 1Research Scholar, Department of Geography, Institute of Science, B.H.U. Varanasi 2Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Institute of Science, B.H.U. Varanasi (Corresponding author's email: [email protected]) Abstract Nowadays Self-Help Group or SHG plays a vital role not only in social transformation and upliftment of rural women but also in social-economic betterment of them. The main objective of this paper is to examine the impact assessment in the socio-economic status of rural women through Self Help Groups with the help of a micro-level study of two C. D. blocks namely Dhaniakhali and Polba-Dadpur in Hooghly district. 40572 SHGs are consisting of 394897 members in 18 C. D. blocks of Hooghly district. Among the blocks, Daniakhali and Polba-Dadpur were selected for the study, of which 28 groups are chosen randomly. From these selected groups 108 members have been selected to conduct the primary survey. Personal interviews were conducted to find out the major purposes of the study i.e. to examine the role of SHG in developing the socio-economic status of rural women and to analyse the impact of SHGs in decision making. The study is mainly based on primary data and simple per cent calculation is used for analysing the data. The major analytical tool employed for the study is tabular analysis to facilitate easy interpretation. Map of the study area is prepared through ArcGIS 10.5 software. The present study explains a detailed socio-economic profile of the SHG members in the study area. Keywords: self-help group, women empowerment, SHG movement, decision making, socio-economic development Introduction The prosperity and stability of a family are increase the economic growth and for a better incomplete until a woman is not empowered. standard of living. Women's participation in the Women constitute around fifty per cent of the revolutionary movement (Mehta, 2004) was total human resources in our economy. Still, significant even when they were deprived of women are more under-privileged than men as basic human rights in the men's world. The they are subject to many socio-economic and preamble to the Constitution of India promises cultural constraints. The situation is more full equality to all citizens in all respects. severe in the rural and backward areas. Women's development saw a reflection in the Therefore women development activities must Indian constitution wherein laws were enacted be given importance to eradicate poverty, to eradicate the social evil of inequality five- Socio-Economic Status of Rural Women of Self Help Groups ... 165 year plans and voluntary actions by women, background.SHG is a concept based on the state-sponsored programmes like rural Mahila homogeneity, mutual support, group approach Mandals and local self-government, and regular savings. It serves the principle “by participation in social and women's welfare the women, of the women and for the women” programmes through voluntary actions and (Chandra, 1997). At present-day Self Help finally the demand for reservation in political Groups (SHGs) become an important strategy institutions (Pandey,2002). Self-help groups for empowering women and to alleviate (SHGs) play today a major role in alleviating poverty. SHG movement in India has emerged poverty in rural areas. Rapid progress in SHG as the world's largest and most successful f o r m a t i o n h a s n o w t u r n e d i n t o a n network of Community-Based Organisations empowerment movement among women (CBOs). The objective of the study is to assess across the country (Biswas, 2007). It is reported the socio-economic status of rural SHG that the SHGs have a role in accelerating members. Reasons for joining SHG and country's economic development. They also impacts of SHGs on the socio-economic status help to elevate the economic status of their of its members are also analysed. families. Consequently, the participation of The study area women in the country's economic development Dhaniakhali (also spelt Dhanekhali) is a is increasing. This has led to boost the process community development block that forms an of women's Empowerment. Simply getting administrative division in Chinsurah cash into their hands (by way of working subdivision of Hooghly district. The place has capital) can lead to increased self-esteem, lent its name to the tant (handloom) sari it control and empowerment by helping them produces. The block is well established as a rich achieve greater economic independence and zone both in agriculture and industry in West security, which gives them the chance to Bengal. The Dhaniakhali CD Block is also a contribute financially to their households and part of the Hooghly-Damodar Plain. The region communities because women “tend to keep has many depressions which receive water nothing back for themselves they contribute from the surrounding lands during the rainy decisively to the well-being of their season and discharge the water through small families”(Susy Cheston and Lisa Kuhn, channels. Dhanekhali is located at 22°58′N 2002).In such a way, by mobilizing women 88°06′E. It is located 36 km from Chinsurah, around thrift and credit activities SHG has the district headquarters. Dhaniakhali CD developed economic self- reliance and Block has an area of 275.68 sq. km. As per 2011 changing their social attitude and status in the Census of India Dhaniakhali, CD Block had a family and society. Thus.SHG has emerged as a total population of 320,534. key programming strategy for most of the Data sources and methodology women development activities. Vinaya Personal interviews were conducted to find Gamoorthy (2007) noted that the self-help out the impact assessment in the socio- group members' saving habit is increased economic status of rural women through Self through SHG. Mainly, members of the SHGs Help Groups. The study is mainly based on are women. The SHG promotes small savings primary data but to establish the relevance of among its members. Self-Help Group (SHG) is the study some secondary data from various a small voluntary association of poor people, published and unpublished records, books, preferably from the same socio-economic journals also have been applied. The survey 166 Saheli Kumar and Kaushalendra Prakash Goswami Figure 1: Location of the study area took place in two C. D. Blocks namely Polba- approached from two C. D. Blocks by Dadpur and Dhaniakhali blocks of Hooghly structured interview schedule. The major district of West Bengal in November to analytical tool employed for the study is tabular December 2019. As the language spoken in analysis to facilitate easy interpretation with West Bengal is Bengali, therefore the entire the help of simple percentage method. Map of interviews were mostly conducted in Bengali the study area is prepared through ArcGIS 10.5 language and then translated in English. In the software. beginning, from each block with the help of Results and discussion random sampling first few respondents were SHG movement chosen then they were asked to recruit other Though the origin of Self Help Groups respondents as a referral of snowball sampling (SHGs) is the brainchild of Grameen Bank of technique for quick identification of SHG Bangladesh, founded by Prof. Mohammed members. In such a way, 108 respondents were Yunus in 1975 in West Bengal the SHGs have Socio-Economic Status of Rural Women of Self Help Groups ... 167 emerged in 1995 which was followed by a rapid are formed by different administrative spread since 2003- 2004. It is experienced that authorities keeping in mind the different after 2003 there has been a revolution in the purpose they may serve. Interestingly, it is area of formation of SHGs in West Bengal. In found that in case of the formation of SHGs in the formation of SHGs in West Bengal, Hooghly district, the key players are DRDC of P a n c h a y a t a n d R u r a l D e v e l o p m e n t the district, Hooghly District Central Co- Department, Government of West Bengal and Operative Bank and some NGOs. However, the West Bengal Central Co-operative Bank play formation of SHGs under SGSY programme is the predominant role. Moreover, several other monitored by DRDC. institutions running under State Government Table 1 clearly shows the total no. of Self namely West Bengal Tribal Development Co- Help Groups and their types in different blocks operative Corporation Ltd, West Bengal State of Hooghly district in 2020. Maximum no. of Co-operative Bank for Agriculture and Rural SHGs are found in Dhaniakhali Block (3846) Development (WBSCARD henceforth) and followed by Polba-Dadpur (3257) and Forest Department are involved in the Tarakeswar (2986). Serampore-Uttarpara formation of SHGs.Like other districts of West (1049), Chanditala I (1336) and Chinsurah- Bengal, in Hooghly district, the role of SHGs is mogra (1463) are lagged far behind in terms of undeniable to provide alternative income- total no. of SHGs in the district. The pattern generating activities to the vast majority of portraits that rural block are far ahead than the unemployed people. The SHGs in this district urban block in Hooghly in term of the total Table 1: Number of Self Help Groups and its members in Hooghly District, 2020 Source: National Rural Livelihood Mission, 2020 NRLM (National Rural Livelihood Mission) 168 Saheli Kumar and Kaushalendra Prakash Goswami number of SHGs.