Women Empowerment Through Self Help Group in Rural Areas of Gandhinagar District of Gujrat

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between women s involvement in SHG and their empowerment in the rural areas of Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Statistical tools, such as descriptive statistics, Pearson s correlation, linear regression and ANOVA were used to analyze the data. Our study finds that the length of membership in SHGs and the position of members in the SHGs had a significant impact on the five dimensions of women s empowerment namely, Social, Economic, Personal, Political and empowerment related to Health and Hygiene with varying degrees. Almost all the aspects of social-economic empowerment had high Mean scores level of empowerment. Increased participation in community activity and increased recognition in the community had the maximum levels of empowerment. Members agreed on their improved ability to visit market place, hospital, native/friend/ relative s place on their own, children s school visit, enhanced recognition and participation in the community activities. It can be concluded that there was overall socio-economic empowerment among the members participating in the survey. Political empowerment was not as high as social and personal empowerment. The members were reluctant to contest in the general elections. The vaccination of children and the cleanliness of the house received top priority. They emphasised the use of cleaner sanitary facilities. More than half of the participants agreed or strongly agreed to be able to decide the number of children they will have. Members understood the use of healthcare during pregnancy and also understood the importance of having healthy nutritious meals. Members were found to be least participative in the decision of usage of any method for family planning. newlineKeeping all that in mind, several parameters with respect to demographic features (age, marital status, level of education, occupation and family size), and socioeconomic factors (social status, poverty status, type of house and ownership of the house) were taken into consideration for our study. Our study re