A STUDY ON EMPOWERMENT OF RURAL WOMEN THROUGH SELF HELP GROUPS IN DINDIGUL DISTRICT S. Archana1, Dr. C. Gnanaprakasam2 1PhD, Research Scholar, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore. 2Agni School of Business Excellence, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, ABSTRACT Self Help Group (SHG) is one of the most The findings reveal that the economic important inbuilt mechanisms for empower empowerment in terms of monthly income, women particularly in rural areas. Self Help social empowerment and cultural Groups are generally non formal groups whose empowerment of rural women members of women members have a common objective of self help groups have improved significantly promoting savings among them and utilize after joining self help groups. Also, the resources to meet up their emergency needs. overall empowerment of rural women has The involvement of rural women in considerably increased due to self help activities of self help groups has generated groups. The outcomes of this study indicate incredible effect on their life. Self Help Groups that self help groups have significant role in improve status of equality of rural women as enhancing overall empowerment of rural members, contributors and recipients of benefits women members by making them culturally, for their cultural, social and economic socially and economically better and it enhancement (Kondal, 2014). Self Help Groups facilitates them to increase their incomes and create a higher degree of self confidence and savings through economic activities with mutual thrust among women in rural areas and technical and financial supports. motivate them to be successful in their personal, Key Words: Empowerment, Rural Women, family and social life (Azim, 2013). Thus, the Self Help Groups present research is designed to study empowerment of rural women through self help 1. INTRODUCTION groups in Dindigul district. The empowerment of rural women is an imperative for development of economy of a 2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY country and also has significant role in creating The present study is done in Dindigul district. a base for social transformation and change. In Rural women members of self help groups are order to enhance the socio-economic status of chosen by applying random sampling technique. people in any country, it is a precondition to The data are gathered from 300 rural women empower rural women by increasing and members of self help groups by using creating their participation to the best possible questionnaire method. The percentages are ways. If women are regarded as equal partners worked out for profile, reasons to joint self help in development with men in rural areas, then groups and overall empowerment of rural only holistic and pleasant development of any women through self help groups. The paired t- nation would be achieved. Therefore, freedom test is used to study difference in economic, to rural women is a prerequisite for economic social, cultural and overall empowerment of development and upliftment of society and rural women between before and after joining equal opportunities are to be given to rural self help groups. women. Taking rural women in to the middle of the path of development is one of the main issues for country like India (Naik and Rodrigues, 2017). ISSN (PRINT): 2393-8374, (ONLINE): 2394-0697, VOLUME-5, ISSUE-1, 2018 70 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CURRENT ENGINEERING AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH (IJCESR) 3. RESULTS caste then by most backward caste (30.67 per 3.1. PROFILE OF WOMEN MEMBERS OF cent), scheduled caste (14.33 per cent), general SELF HELP GROUPS caste (9.00 per cent) and scheduled tribes (6.67 The findings elucidate that 37.33 per per cent) and 34.67 per cent of women members cent of women members of self help groups are have occupation of agricultural labourers then in the age group of 26 – 35 years then by 36 – by petty business (24.33 per cent), housewife 45 years (29.67 per cent), 46 – 55 years (19.00 (18.00 per cent), vegetable seller (10.33 per per cent), below 25 years (8.00 per cent) and cent), self employment (7.00 per cent) and above 55 years (6.00 per cent) and 33.67 per artisan (5.67 per cent). cent of women members are illiterates then by 3.2. REASONS FOR JOINING SELF HELP primary education (20.67 per cent), middle GROUPS FOR WOMEN MEMBERS education (18.00 per cent), secondary education The reasons for joining self help groups (12.67 per cent), higher secondary education for women members were analyzed and the (8.66 per cent) and graduation (6.33 per cent). results are presented in Table-1. The findings explicate that 39.33 per cent of women members belong to backward Table-1. Reasons for Joining Self Help Groups for Women Members Number of Women Reasons for Joining Self Help Groups Percentage Members Cultivating saving habit 41 13.67 To increase family income 116 38.67 To avail loans for business activities 27 9.00 To be self-governing 82 27.33 To enhance socio-economic conditions of 34 11.33 family Total 300 100.00 The results imply that 38.67 per cent of women 3.3. ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF members of self help groups view that to WOMEN THROUGH SELF HELP increase family income is the main reason for GROUPS joining self help groups then by to be self- The economic empowerment of women governing (27.33 per cent), cultivating saving in terms of monthly income through self help habit (13.67 per cent), to enhance socio- groups was analyzed and the results are economic conditions of family (11.33 per cent) presented in Table-2. and to avail loans for business activities (9.00 per cent). Table-2. Economic Empowerment of Women through Self Help Groups Before Joining Self Help After Joining Self Help Groups Groups Paired Monthly Income Number of Number of t-Value Women Percentage Women Percentage Members Members Less than Rs. 6000 125 41.67 68 22.67 Rs.6,001 – Rs.8,000 96 32.00 116 38.67 4.856 Rs.8,001 – Rs.10,000 52 17.33 70 23.33 More than Rs.10,000 27 9.00 46 15.33 Total 300 100.00 300 100.00 - The results reveal that before joining self help Rs.6,001 – Rs.8,000 (32.00 per cent), Rs.8,001 groups, 41.67 per cent of women members have – Rs.10,000 (17.33 per cent) and more than monthly income of less than Rs. 6000 then by Rs.10,000 (9.00 per cent), while, after joining ISSN (PRINT): 2393-8374, (ONLINE): 2394-0697, VOLUME-5, ISSUE-1, 2018 71 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CURRENT ENGINEERING AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH (IJCESR) self help groups, 38.67 per cent of women women in terms of monthly income between members have monthly income of Rs.6,001 – before and after joining self help groups. Rs.8,000 then by Rs.8,001 – Rs.10,000 (23.33 per cent), less than Rs. 6000 (22.67 per cent) 3.4. SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT OF and more than Rs.10,000 (15.33 per cent). The WOMEN THROUGH SELF HELP paired t-value of 4.856 is significant at one per GROUPS cent level indicating that there is significant The social empowerment of women difference in economic empowerment of through self help groups was analyzed and the results are presented in Table-3. Table-3. Social Empowerment of Women through Self Help Groups Before Joining Self Help After Joining Self Help Groups Groups Paired t- Particulars Number of Number of Value Women Percentage Women Percentage Members Members Recognition by 64 21.33 80 26.67 family Participation in 79 26.33 85 28.33 community events 3.712 Recognition by 98 32.67 104 34.67 neighbours Involvement in 59 19.67 31 10.33 social problems Total 300 100.00 300 100.00 - The results exhibit that before joining self help cent). The paired t-value of 3.712 is significant groups, 32.67 per cent of women members view at one per cent level showing that there is that they are recognized by neighbours then by significant difference in social empowerment of participation in community events (26.33 per women between before and after joining self cent), recognition by family (21.33 per cent) help groups. and involvement in social problems (19.67 per 3.5. CULTURAL EMPOWERMENT OF cent), whereas, after joining self help groups, WOMEN THROUGH SELF HELP 34.67 per cent of women members view that GROUPS they are recognized by neighbours then by The cultural empowerment of women participation in community events (28.33 per through self help groups was analyzed and the cent), recognition by family (26.67 per cent) results are presented in Table-4. and involvement in social problems (10.33 per Table-4. Cultural Empowerment of Women through Self Help Groups Before Joining Self Help After Joining Self Help Groups Groups Paired t- Particulars Number Number of Value of Women Percentage Women Percentage Members Members Participating in 91 30.33 103 34.33 cultural functions Participating in 87 29.00 96 32.00 religious functions 3.520 Cultivating cultural 68 22.67 78 26.00 values Attending religious 54 18.00 23 7.67 meetings Total 300 100.00 300 100.00 - ISSN (PRINT): 2393-8374, (ONLINE): 2394-0697, VOLUME-5, ISSUE-1, 2018 72 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CURRENT ENGINEERING AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH (IJCESR) The results exhibit that before joining self help meetings(7.67). The paired t-value of 3.520 is groups, 30.33 per cent of women members view significant at one per cent level indicating that that they are participating in cultural functions there is significant difference in cultural then by participating in religious functions empowerment of women between before and (29.00 per cent), cultivating cultural values after joining self help groups.