Associate Professor and Head, Department of Economics, Kittel Arts College, Dharwad-580 001
Online published on 20 July, 2016.
Group approach to empowerment of women is gaining momentum in India and other developing countries. Women are mobilized into groups for undertaking mutually beneficial social and economic activities. SHG-microfinance strategies have positively contributed for the development of women and strategies of SHG-micro credit are an ideal and indispensable tool of women's empowerment. Empowerment is a construct that links individual strength and competencies, mutual helping systems and proactive behavior to matters of social policy and social change. The present study is focused on the social change due to social, political, cultural and economic empowerment approaches. Based on an empirical survey the research study reveals the social impact on women empowerment due to the SHG-microfinance during pre and post membership of women members of SHGs in the study area of Haveri district. Social empowerment of women is indicated through greater mobility of women members of SHGs during the post membership period. Increased frequency of these SHG women members in their contacts with officials/non-officials and their participation in village Panchayat meetings, meetings of co-operative societies, school meetings, meetings of political parties, participation in voting during elections and in cultural activities etc. clearly indicate their social empowerment due to their membership of SHGs and the impact of micro finance.
