Many of the rural women members of SHGs of Punjab have begun participating in the SHG movement in the past two decades. Some of the salient features of their participation have been discussed in their paper. Analyzing the concepts that have governed the lives and functions of these self-help groups, this paper has examined closely the route micro-finance has provided for the empowerment of the rural women. The inherent barriers to the successful formation and nurturing of the Self Help Groups have been discussed. The gaps between the mandate for SHGs formation, the needs of the SHG members as also the background of the member’s families, all determine the success or failure of the SHG, how these factors determine the successful presence of the SHG, to what extent and degree of functionality do government and non-government bodies impact upon the survival and longevity of the SHGs. The methodology of the present research has been to study secondary data in the form of reports and other documents of apex institutions like NABARD and other government and non-government organizations.
Volume 11 | 08-Special Issue
Pages: 1354-1359