Socio-Economic conditions of self-help groups: A study on Litimunda Village of Sambalpur District

Self Help Groups or SHGs represent a unique approach to financial intermediation in India. The approach combines access to low-cost financial services with a process of self management and development for the women who are SHG members. SHGs are formed and supported usually by NGOs or increasingly by Government agencies. Linked not only to banks but also to wider development programmes, SHGs are seen to confer many benefits, both economic and social. SHGs enable women to grow their savings and to access the credit which banks are increasingly willing to lend. SHGs can also be community platforms from which women become active in village affairs, stand for local election or take action to address social or community issues like the abuse of women, alcohol, the dowry system, schools and water supply. The empowerment of women is one of the central issues in the process of development of countries all over the world. The emerging changes in the values and attitudes of the members of the SHGs are a clear manifestation of socioeconomic empowerment interventions yielding relatively quicker results. The study has been selected 275 members from different Self Help Groups in Litimunda village of Sambalpur district. The data collected from the selected members include personal data and socio-economic background of the members selected and perceptions of the members regarding admission to organization and management of self help groups.