Economic Sustainability through Women Self Help Groups in Tribal area of Gujarat

Microfinance is prove one of the better option to empowering the rural or tribal women by income and employment generation through Self Help Group formation. This, in turn, can have positive social effects at different levels of society, from personal, to community, and even at the regional level. The study is based on primary data collected from 120 respondents (60 SHG-members and 60 SHG non-members) from 10 villages of Garbada and Dahod talukas from Dahod district of Gujarat. The results revealed that the SHG members had maximum income from agriculture (32.25 percent), followed by livestock (31.49 percent)andincome through SHG activities (12.88 percent). SHG members earned additional income `8375.72 (12.88 percent of total income) by participating in SHGs. In case of employment, the average agriculture sector provided 88.31 man-days per annum higher employment in case of SHG members as against 75.83 man-days per annum in SHG non-members. The study clearly showed significant positive impact on income and employment generation through Self-Help Groups. SHG members had better repayment capacity than non-members due to better income of members. The various ratios calculated for SHGs showed sound financial status of SHGs as well as their members indicating that SHGs cater efficiently to their financial needs.