Empowering Women Through Self-Help Groups: Socio-Economic Insights from Khordha District of Odisha, India

Abstract

The present study entitled Impact of Women Self-help Group on Socio-economic Development of Farm women in Khordha district of Odisha was undertaken to examine the socio-economic characteristics and contributions of women Self-Help Group (SHG) members in Khordha District, Odisha, and evaluate their role in empowering women through economic independence, social inclusion, and community development. The study was conducted in the year 2018-2020. Purposive and random sampling techniques were used to select districts, blocks, gram panchayats, and villages. The total sample size for the study was 120. The responses were obtained from each respondent through a pre-tested structured interview schedule that was prepared for the collection of data. The study revealed that majority of the respondents (51.7%) belonged to the middle age group, having caste as general (76.7%) and with qualifications above high school (64.2%). Among the respondents (81.7%) belonged to joint families and a maximum number of respondents (46.7%) had medium family size. Most of the respondents (73.3%) had pucca houses. Based on the study it was concluded that the SHGs in Khordha district have yielded some economic and social impacts in the lives of SHG women beneficiaries. By integrating socio-economic insights with empowerment strategies, the study offers a thorough understanding of the impact and potential of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in promoting gender equity and fostering sustainable development.