Women self help groups from rags to riches
The adage sticks tied together cannot be easily broken seems to be the driving spirit behind women’s unity for forming self help groups to deal with social and economic problems that particularly engulf the rural areas. In India, Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) were initiated by NABARD (National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development), with the support of local NGOs. Women's groups are well organized. They have annual elections for leadership posts such as chairperson, treasurer, and secretary. There are by-laws and constitutions that govern most of these groups. By forming SHGs women are generating income during off-season to support their families.
Why is there a need to organize women into self-help groups?
Women self help groups came into existence to promote savings- and credit activities, and engage women of the groups in production units. The rational was that savings and credit activities and promotion of income generating activities will bring economic prosperity and independence to the women and their families. Due to strengthening of financial condition of families more children will be able to attend school instead of being forced into child labour.
Multinationals and women self help groups
Liberalization and globalization has opened new vistas for development and paved the way for entry of multinational into developing countries. In this changed scenario whereas local enterprises are finding it difficult to compete with the products that are better in quality and as lower in prices women self-help groups (SHGs) are shaping themselves as a power to be reckoned with. While the multinational companies have more money power, these groups have extensive market potential of their own families and companies. In rural areas SHGs are posing challenge to multinational companies in India.
End of male domination
Women self help groups have checked male domination by reducing importance of cash through group effort. In many states self help groups are taking take care of the personal needs of the members and their families such as health care, education, employment and marriage.
From rags to riches
Women self help groups have transformed lives of slum women in Andhra Pradesh. With the help of NGOs slum women have formed self-help groups to extend credit facility to needy members. The members of these self-help groups are successfully running credit societies leading to happy homes, self employment and communal harmony.
In Andhra Pradesh credit societies operating in different slums have come together to form an umbrella credit society called “Roshan Vikas”. The Roshan Vikas helps the women to secure big loans at reasonable interest rates.
There are several success stories of women in slums journeying from rags to riches after they joined the self-help groups. For example case of Jaya, a widow in her early twenties with a mentally retarded daughter and two sons, it was the end of the road for Jaya when her in-laws threw her out of the house. She came to stay with her parents in Ambedkar Nagar slum in Falaknuma and took up odd jobs as a maid in market apartments.
The turning point in her life came when she was introduced to the self-help group members in the slum. Jaya decided to become a member. All that she needed to become a member was deposit Rs. 30 per month. After joining the group she secured a small loan and set up a sweets shop in her house. Slowly she started stocking more things like cosmetics, cool drinks, and daily needs items. She approached the Roshan Vikas credit society for a bigger loan and purchased a refrigerator for storing cool drinks and other eatables. Gradually Jaya become dealer in her locality for many soft drink brands including Coca-Cola and Pepsi. There are hundreds of similar cases of women who have braved all odds to find a solution to poverty and unemployment.
Self Help Groups leading to empowerment
Economic independence is the first step towards women’s empowerment and empowerment leads to emancipation. Today Andhra Pradesh state has the largest network of women self-help groups numbering more than 5 lakh with membership of around 1 crore.
Conclusion
Women self help groups have proved that strength lies in numbers: if they pool their resources together in self-help groups of their own creation, they can radically change their lives and the lives of their families and communities.
Women self help groups have raised confidence level among women and now they are taking their own decisions. Women are now increasingly participating and contributing in general, social, women's rights and political matters of their respective villages. The change is not only confined to their physical well being women are now more confident, assertive and aware of their rights. Whether it is city slums or interior villages in rural side, the concept of self-help groups has made a big difference to the life of several women.
Why is there a need to organize women into self-help groups?
Women self help groups came into existence to promote savings- and credit activities, and engage women of the groups in production units. The rational was that savings and credit activities and promotion of income generating activities will bring economic prosperity and independence to the women and their families. Due to strengthening of financial condition of families more children will be able to attend school instead of being forced into child labour.
Multinationals and women self help groups
Liberalization and globalization has opened new vistas for development and paved the way for entry of multinational into developing countries. In this changed scenario whereas local enterprises are finding it difficult to compete with the products that are better in quality and as lower in prices women self-help groups (SHGs) are shaping themselves as a power to be reckoned with. While the multinational companies have more money power, these groups have extensive market potential of their own families and companies. In rural areas SHGs are posing challenge to multinational companies in India.
End of male domination
Women self help groups have checked male domination by reducing importance of cash through group effort. In many states self help groups are taking take care of the personal needs of the members and their families such as health care, education, employment and marriage.
From rags to riches
Women self help groups have transformed lives of slum women in Andhra Pradesh. With the help of NGOs slum women have formed self-help groups to extend credit facility to needy members. The members of these self-help groups are successfully running credit societies leading to happy homes, self employment and communal harmony.
In Andhra Pradesh credit societies operating in different slums have come together to form an umbrella credit society called “Roshan Vikas”. The Roshan Vikas helps the women to secure big loans at reasonable interest rates.
There are several success stories of women in slums journeying from rags to riches after they joined the self-help groups. For example case of Jaya, a widow in her early twenties with a mentally retarded daughter and two sons, it was the end of the road for Jaya when her in-laws threw her out of the house. She came to stay with her parents in Ambedkar Nagar slum in Falaknuma and took up odd jobs as a maid in market apartments.
The turning point in her life came when she was introduced to the self-help group members in the slum. Jaya decided to become a member. All that she needed to become a member was deposit Rs. 30 per month. After joining the group she secured a small loan and set up a sweets shop in her house. Slowly she started stocking more things like cosmetics, cool drinks, and daily needs items. She approached the Roshan Vikas credit society for a bigger loan and purchased a refrigerator for storing cool drinks and other eatables. Gradually Jaya become dealer in her locality for many soft drink brands including Coca-Cola and Pepsi. There are hundreds of similar cases of women who have braved all odds to find a solution to poverty and unemployment.
Self Help Groups leading to empowerment
Economic independence is the first step towards women’s empowerment and empowerment leads to emancipation. Today Andhra Pradesh state has the largest network of women self-help groups numbering more than 5 lakh with membership of around 1 crore.
Conclusion
Women self help groups have proved that strength lies in numbers: if they pool their resources together in self-help groups of their own creation, they can radically change their lives and the lives of their families and communities.
Women self help groups have raised confidence level among women and now they are taking their own decisions. Women are now increasingly participating and contributing in general, social, women's rights and political matters of their respective villages. The change is not only confined to their physical well being women are now more confident, assertive and aware of their rights. Whether it is city slums or interior villages in rural side, the concept of self-help groups has made a big difference to the life of several women.
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