Impact of NGO-Led Self-Help Groups on the Empowerment of Rural Women – Experiences from South India

Abstract

The concept and process of the empowerment of women encompass a wide range of actions and issues, among them enhancing awareness and increasing access to economic, social and political resources. The organization of women into groups is a key element of the process of empowerment, as groups provide a basis for solidarity, strength and collective action. In this context, a study was conducted in the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu to assess the impact of self-help groups (SHGs) led by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on the empowerment of rural women. The effectiveness of such groups was measured using Bennett's Hierarchy. Following multi-stage random sampling, data were collected from 180 SHG members of the most prominent NGO, the Association of Sarva Seva Farms (ASSEFA). The authors' analysis shows that the SHG members were more empowered psychologically, socially, economically and politically than other women.

A scoping review of the contributions of farmers’ organizations to smallholder agriculture

“…Some studies suggest that the homogeneity of women's self-help groups positively affected women's likelihood of joining, as a higher proportion of female members is more appealing to other women 43 . In India, rural self-help groups and women's cooperatives show positive impacts on women's empowerment and access to credit, but often limited impact on domestic gender relations 44 .…”

Collective Action, Envisioning the Future and Women’s Self-help Groups: A Case Study from South India

“…Moreover, women did not use the word empowerment in discussing SHG activities or changes in the roles of women. Yet, their discussions of mobility, future exposure to different kinds of work and everyday opportunities, access to knowledge and building confidence point to some psychological, social and political dimensions of empowerment (Sangeetha et al, 2013). Collective action in the fight for a new road also created opportunities for women to enact changes in their lives while envisioning and articulating their hopes for the future.…”

“…Empowerment, a ‘multidimensional process involving challenging existing power relationships and inequalities at different interlinked levels’ (Mayoux, 2003, p. 10), takes place ‘when women challenge the existing social norms and culture, to effectively improve their well-being’ (Swain & Wallentin, 2009, p. 541), in turn expanding and enhancing everyday agency (Kabeer, 2001b, p. 19; Tesoriero, 2006, p. 323). Sangeetha, Bahal, Singh and Venkatesh (2013, pp. 60–61) have considered four dimensions of empowerment—economic, political, psychological and social.…”

“…Examples of such future production outcomes may include improvements in women’s perceptions of dimensions of empowerment and social inclusion. Sangeetha et al’s (2013) study of 18 SHGs in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, found that group members were more socially, economically, politically and psychologically empowered than non-group members from the same communities. Swain and Wallentin’s (2009) study of measures of microfinance and empowerment among SHG and non-group households in five Indian states found an increase in direct and indirect empowerment effects among SHG members, although they are careful to note that all women will not become empowered at the same rate/to the same degree.…”

Technology, rurality and gender… false friends, but not enemies!

“…Indeed, it is rare to find rural women leading groups of producers or farmers because they are excluded from positions of high responsibility, lack empowerment and have low levels of education, especially the technological training that has become an essential part of farming productivity (Bryant and Pini, 2006; Sangeetha et al, 2013; Charatsari et al 2013).…”