A Study on Women Self-Help Group in Chennai

A S Gowthami, II BBA

Chevalier T Thomas Elizabeth College for Women, Chennai

Abstract

            . In India,women empowerment is a buzz word to-day. As a nation, India is committed to the empowerment of women. Though women is regarded as “the unsung heroine who works from dawn to dusk”, yet it is unfortunate that even the ignorant and worthless men had been enjoying superiority over women which they do not deserve and ought not to have. So, Since independence government has made concerted efforts towards removing various biases. The Governtment of India and state authority have increasingly realized the importance of economic betterment and development of women in India. It was identified that key instruments for supporting women’s empowerment are self help group.

The paper aims at studying a Self Help Group (SHG) and their operations. The data for the study is collected from primary source through questionnaire and interview and secondary source from print media,books and journals.

Key Words: Self help group, economic and social status, women empowerement.

Introduction

             The concept of Self Help Groups serves to underline the principle “for the people, by the people and of the people”. The Self Help Groups is the brain child of Gamelan Bank of Bangladesh, which was founded by Prof. Mohammed Yunas of Chittagong University in the year 1975. The Self Help Groups scheme was introduced in Tamilnadu in 1989.

A self-help group (SHG) is a village-based financial intermediary usually composed of 10–20 local women or men. A mixed group is generally not preferred. Most self-help groups are located in India, though SHGs can also be found in other countries, especially in South Asia and Southeast Asia.

            Members make small regular savings contributions over a few months until there is enough capital in the group to begin lending. Funds may then be lent back to the members or to others in the village for any purpose. In India, many SHG's are 'linked' to banks for the delivery of micro- credit.

Objective of the Study

·         The primary objective of this paper is to study about SHG.

·         Secondary objective of this paper is to study economic background, operation strategy and marketing strategy adopted by self-help group.

·         To find out the problems faced by the members in SHG.

·         To study the level of satisfaction of members in SHG.

Research Methodology

Sources of data: Both primary and secondary data are used.

Primary data:Primary data collected through Structured questionnaire and interview.

Secondary data: Secondary data collected through data print books, journals, e-journals, e-books, websites, magazines.

Sample size: 20 samples of self-help group who visited our college for the college bazaar on 23.7.2014.

Sample techniques:Sample techniques used is research study and case study.

Statistical tool used: Simple percentage method is used to analysis and interpret data.

Limitations:

·         The study is carried only on the basis of data collected from Self-Help Group in Chennai

·         The sample size is only 20 is very small and may not reflect the population.

·         The study is time for the study was too less to do an extensive study.

Review of literature:

During the study several literature were reviewed for better understanding on the concept. Few study are listed below:

According to Wani N. Laturkar and Archana K. Deshmukh, on the topic ‘a study on economical empowerment of women through self helps group and comparison of utilization of loan in Marathwada region

            “Self-Help Group is important and utmost necessary to make rural empowerment in taking decisions to enable them to be in the central part of any human development process. The empowerment of women also considered as an active process enabling women to realize their full identity and power in all spheres of life”. It was found that the loan amount was used for agriculture and education.

According to Poonam Parihar, Rakesh Nanda, S.K. Kher N Ahmed and S.P.Singh in their study ‘ Impact of self help group on rural women in Jammu District’

            “A Self-Help Group is a small voluntary association of poor people preferably from the same socio-economic back drop. The micro credit given to them makes them enterprising. SHG is a media for the development of saving habit among the women”. The study revealed that women belonging to self help group were able to take decision independently when compared to women who did not belong to self help group. Women felt empowered after joining self help group.

In the study on the topic ‘ women empowerment through self help group in Andra Pradesh, India’  Kappa Kondal found  that

            “Self-Help Group are considered as one of the most significant in participatory approach for the economic empowerment of women. It is an important institutions for improving life of women on various social components. It enables its member to learn to co-operative and work in a group environment”.

In their study on the topic ‘ A study on Women Empowerment through self help groups with reference to Metupalayam District in Coimbatore,  S. Thangamani and S. Muthuselvi found that:

            “The empowerment of women through Self-Help Group lead to benefits not only to the individual women but also for the family and the community as a whole through collective action for development. SHGs have linkage with NGOs and banks to get finance. In turn it will promote the economy of the country by its contribute to rural economy”.

Analysis and Interpretation of the study:

          The analysis and interpretations are guided by the purpose of study. Analysis and interpretations is the main thing for the Research. The researcher presents the analysis of the dataand interprets them in the form diagrams and graphs.

Data analysis and interpretation

1.Level of literacy

S.No.	Level of literacy	No. of respondents	Percentage
1	Illiterate	0	0
2	Primary	4	20
3	Secondary	8	40
4	Degree	8	40
	Total	20	100

The table on the literacy level of the women in the SHG shows that 20% of them studied upto primary, 40% upto secondary, 40% upto degree.

2.Marital status

S. No.	Marital Status	No. of respondents	Percentage
1	Unmarried	3	15
2	Married	17	85
3	Widow	0	0
4	Divorced	0	0
	Total	20	100

The  table on the marital status of the women in SHG show  that 15% of them are unmarried, 85% of them are married.

3. Household type

S.No.	Household type	No. of respondents	Percentage
1	Joint	11	55
2	Nuclear	9	45
	Total	20	100

From the above table the household type of them is 55% belonged to joint family , 45% belonged to nuclear family.

4. Price determined

S.No.	Price determined	No. of respondents	Percentage
1	Cost basis	11	55
2	Demand and supply	9	45
	Total	20	100

From the above table it is interpreted that the  40% of respondents determine price on  cost basis and 60% based on  demand and supply.

5. Is the product

S.No.	Product	No. of respondents	Percentage
1	By SHG	15	75
2	Purchased	3	15
3	Both	2	10
	Total	20	100

The table shows that  75% of the respondents said that the product is made by them and  15% of them  purchased from whole seller and  10%. Said they made and also purchased.

6. Advertising type

S.No.	Advertising type	No. of respondents	Percentage
1	Word of mouth	0	0
2	Media	0	0
3	Fairs & Bazaars	7	35
4	Government	13	65
	Total	20	100

From the above table is it found that 35% respondents advertised by participating in Fairs and Bazaars and 65% respondents said that government advertised for them.

Findings

·         Their awareness is improved on creating new things after joining SHG.

·         Their confidence level increased 100% after joining SHG.

·         98% of them learn new skill after joining SHG.

·         Social and economic status increased after joining SHG.

·         Their opinion level on employment generation through SHG’s will increase. 

Suggestions   

            Their suggestion to improve the self-help group

·         Funds from governmental and non-governmental organizations.

·         Separate place to sell their product.

·         Training for women.

·         Orders through public or by government organizations.

Conclusion: The study on Self Help group gave an insight about the how SHG functions and their to women’s economic and social development. SHG also improved the personality of women as they said their confidence improved after joining SHG. Fund Mobilizing and getting a bulk order from government was few concerns for SHG that can be addressed. To conclude Women Self help group is a successful concept and it contributed to the economic betterment and development of women as aimed by our government.