Role of SHGs in empowerment of rural women: A study in Shimoga District

Rural women today have been suffering a lot due to the feeling of helplessness and lack of decision-making capabilities in financial matters. Self help groups (SHGs) are the most recent development for them which could enable them to come forward and make them self dependent and self employed. The main objective of this study is to study the effectiveness of SHGs in empowering women as well as the interest of rural women towards SHGs. Chi-square test has used to test the significance of the result and it was found that the women associated with SHGs have disclosed that have economically benefited them across the time of association with them. But there is significant difference in the perception on the effect that SHGs had on various factors. They are socially and politically benefited by SHG across the time of association with SHG.