Empowerment of Women through Self-help Groups and Credit Linkage: A Case Study of Six Self-help Groups under Ramsai Hills, Assam

Abstract

A harmonious progress of a nation is possible only when women are considered as equal partners in the development process. Since early 1970's the emergence of Self Help Group (SHGs) as a vehicle of transformation in povery alleviation and women empowerment became worldwide phenomenon. Self Help Groups are considered as one of the means to empower women as it enables them to pool resources through thrift and opens them to easy access to credits. A SHG is generally a village-base financial intermediary. It is homogenous and has commonality of interest. Typically it is a group of "micro entrepreneurs" with similar social and economic backgrounds, coming together to save regular small sums of money, jointly agreeing to contribute to a common fund and to meet their emergency needs. They pool their resources to become financially stable.