e-ISSN : 2394-4161 p-ISSN : 2349-1701 An Empirical Study of Women Empowerment through Self Help Groups in Kurnool District of AP Dr.D. Sreenivasulu1, Dr.G.Vijaya Kumar2 1 Lecturer in Commerce, Govt. Degree College, Pattikonda, Kurnool - 518 380, [email protected] 2 Professor in Management Studies, RGMCET (Autonomous), Nandyal, Kurnool Dist AP, India. Abstract The role of women empowerment is a process in which women challenge the existing norms, traditional beliefs and culture, to effectively promote their well being in present circumstances. The participation and habits of women in Self Help Groups (SHGs) made a significant impact on their empowerment both in social and economical aspects. The present study addresses women empowerment through self help groups in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. The information required for the study has been collected from both the primary and secondary sources. The results of the study revealed that the SHGs have had greater impact and significant role on both economic and social aspects of the beneficiaries. Keywords: Women Empowerment, SHG's, SHG Beneficiaries, Women Saving Habits, and Women development through SHG's. Introduction and environmental degradation has caused The concept of Self Help Groups serves to environmental crisis when women belonging to underline the principle "for the people, by the people weaker sections of society are protesting against and of the people". The Self Help Groups is the government policies and programmes which are brain child of Gamelan Bank of Bangladesh, which causing development induced displacement, loss of was founded by Prof. Mohammed Yunas of sustainable livelihood and natural resources. Chittagong University in the year 1975. The Self The present paradigm for empowerment of Help Groups scheme was introduced in Tamil nadu women is not on woman and development but on in 1989. Self-reliance among women is of gender and development factors. The woman in importance as their subordination is seen not only development paradigm assumes that women have as a problem of men but also of colonialism and been left out in the development process and hence neocolonialism. This approach focuses on overall need to be integrated to give benefit. Gender and development and particularly on enhancing social development paradigm recognizes women's triple and economic capabilities. In this task, a number role i.e. in reproduction, production and community of non-governmental organizations are playing a management. Therefore, the main objectives of crucial role since government is seeking partnership development programmes in this context may be to ensure sustainable, people centered and categorized as (i) initiate income generating decentralized development and governance. It is also programmes, (ii) sensitize women about their rights, well accepted that women's active role in ecological entitlements and legal framework; and (iii) take up and environmental programmes may ensure capacity building measures. sustainable development, since increasing ecological 46 MIJBR - MITS International Journal of Business Research e-ISSN : 2394-4161 p-ISSN : 2349-1701 MIJBR | Vol. 1 | Issue 2 | July-December 2014 Self-Help Groups 1. To understand the concept of women The two concepts, "Self-realization and Self- empowerment, dimensions and possible goals. initiative are the most powerful weapons to remove 2. To study the socio-economic background of the poverty out from the world map". This dynamic women beneficiaries and their family. quotation drawn from the world's greatest 3. To analyses the income, expenditure and savings economist Chanakya, has been translated to one habits pattern of the Self Help Groups. word i.e. SHG. Micro-finance through SHG has become a ladder for the poor to bring them up not 4. To assess the impact of SHG programme on only economically but also socially, mentally and various facets of empowerment of the selected attitudinally. beneficiaries. The rural poor, with the intermediation of 5. To find out the benefits through Self Help voluntary organizations also join together for self- Group. help to secure better economic growth. This has Sampling Design resulted in the formation of a large number of SHGs in the country, which mobilize savings and recycle The present study used primary and secondary the resources generated among members. The data for analysis according to the objective set out organization of SHGs has been recognized as in the study. The detailed study covered the entire possible and practical alternatives to provide credit district of Kurnool is selected for analysis. The to the weaker sections particularly, the poor women district is divided into three revenue divisions viz., engaged in the informal sector. The success of the Nandyal, Adoni and Kurnool. In all these three concept of the SHGs is particularly based on divisions there are 54 revenue mandals. As on 31st channelizing their efforts constructively through May 2011, there are 17,301 groups in Kurnool, motivation and inspiration to the field workers. 19,875 groups in Nandyal and 16,294 groups in the Adoni division. Thus, altogether 53,470 SHGs are The concept of SHGs has been emerging as a working in the district. To select the universe for major approach for development and empowerment the study, a multistage and purposive sampling of weaker sections in the third world. In India since technique has been adopted in selecting the mandals the beginning of the Ninth five year plan, most of and the groups. In the first stage three divisions the development programmes are channelized were selected. In the second stage five mandals through SHGs. In most parts of the country, self- from each Revenue Division were selected. From help groups are organized by governmental and non- each mandal, 30 SHG beneficiaries, who have been governmental organizations. The government, banks linked to the bank at least, one time, were selected. and non-governmental organizations facilitate them Finally, altogether, from three divisions, fifteen by providing revolving fund, organizational base and mandals and 450 beneficiaries were selected. Thus, training, credit etc. It is worthwhile to call SHGs a the total universe for the study constitutes 450 mass movement on a national scale for development respondents. and empowerment of the poor and downtrodden in the country. Review of Literature Objectives of the Study According to Agarwal & Deepti (2001) "Women need to be viewed not as beneficiaries but as active The objectives of the present study are proposed participants in the progress of development and the following objectives. change empowerment of women could be organized MIJBR - MITS International Journal of Business Research 47 e-ISSN : 2394-4161 p-ISSN : 2349-1701 into groups for community participation as well as attempt to examine whether there is any association for assertion of their rights in various services related between the growth of SHG and the increase in female to their economic and social well being". bank deposit accounts. Dr.S.Rajamohan, in his study Manimekalai & Rajeswari (2002) conducted a study "opinion of the members of self help groups (2005) on "Grass roots entrepreneurship through Self Help reveals that Self Help Group helps them to increase Groups (SHGs)", with the objective to find out the their status and aids to raise the standard of living. factors which have motivated women to become Mr.B.vijayachandra pillai & V.Harikumar (2006), In Self Help Group members. Jaya S.Anand (2002),in their research "SHGs is highly relevant to make the her discussion paper titled "Self Help Groups in people of below poverty line " says the very existence empowering women; case study of selected Self of SHGs is highly relevant to make the people of below Help Groups and Neighbor Hood Groups(NHGs)", poverty line hopeful and self reliant. gives a review of progress of Self Help Groups. Results and Discussion Vasudeva Rao (2003) conducted a study on "Self Help Groups and Social change" with the objective Freedom from Money Lenders: One of the to study the improved status and quality of life of important objectives of promoting SHG groups is poor women and children in the rural areas and the to free the rural women from the clutches of involvement of community in planning. Mahendra money-lenders, who collect exorbitant rates of Varman.P(2005),in a paper title, "Impact of Self Help interest and spoils the rural economy. The rural credit Groups on formal banking Habits", makes a model scenario is deplorable. Table 1: Comparative Analysis of Amount of Freedom from Money-lenders of SHG Beneficiaries at the District Level No. of Respondents Covered in each Amount of S.No Revenue Division Total Change Kurnool Nandyal Adoni 7 11 18 36 1 No change (4.67) (7.33) (12.00) (8.00) 63 67 46 176 2 Little change (42.00) (44.67) (30.67) (39.11) 65 52 45 162 3 Moderate change (43.33) (34.67) (30.00) (36.00) 15 17 22 54 4 Significant change (10.00) (11.33) (14.67) (12.00) 3 19 22 5 Change for worse (2.00) (12.67) ((4.89) 150 150 150 450 Grand Total (100.00) ((100.00) (100.00) (100.00) Source: Field Survey. A large number of rural masses avails loans from availability of institutional loans is very limited, which non-institutional sources such as money lenders, is truer in the case of rural women. At this juncture, friends, relatives etc. For such loans lenders collect the formation of women Self Help Groups (SHGs) exorbitant interest rates. So they remain in the and motivating them for savings and availing loans clutches of debts for years together which often from such groups in times of need changed the force them to take the extreme step of suicide. The whole rural credit scenario. The present study 48 MIJBR - MITS International Journal of Business Research e-ISSN : 2394-4161 p-ISSN : 2349-1701 MIJBR | Vol.