IMPACT OF SELF HELP GROUPS IN WOMEN’S OVERALL DECISION MAKING

Self Help Group (SHG) is a voluntary small group of Individuals in an area specifically from the same socio-economic background. SHG improve the efforts of women in respect of Investment, Production & Marketing which create a major tool in empowering women and promoting micro-finance in society. A Community based cross sectional study was conducted in Balipatna Block. Out of 129 functioning SHG’s, 10 groups was selected by simple random method and those who agreed to participate in the interview by using a pre-validated questionnaire. Data was entered in Epiinfo (version 3.5.1) statistical software package then exported to SPSS software package version 16.0 for further analysis. A total of 186 SHG members were included in this study. The majority of participants were between age group 20-40 years. Most of them were having secondary level of education or primary level. A large chunk of participant were married (87%) and living in a joint family (78%). Majority were doing animal husbandry (27%) and housewives (26%). In our study 69% of SHGs availed loan of amount more than 10000, and the prime motive of functioning of SHGs were to develop savings (61%) and Period of Functioning of SHG was one to three year (53%). Frequency of Group Meeting for 71% SHGs was monthly and half of the SHGs save 100-500 per meeting. The decision makers in utilizing loan amount is manly spouse (53%), very few decides by all (21%), themselves (18%) and by family (8%). The analyzed findings proved that there is a huge positive impact of SHGs on women empowerment in study area of Odisha in terms of increase in savings habits, profits level, self service, asset creation, social consciousness and participation, reimbursement of other debts, improvement in choice making skills.