Empowerment of Rural Women through Utilization of SHGs Services in Samastipur District of Bihar, India

Abstract

The present study aimed at analyzing the performance of Self Help Group (SHGs) in Bihar with especial reference to Samastipur district. The study revealed that the young women are 46.67 per cent in the selected area, 96.67 per cent of the members were found to be literate and remaining 3.33 per cent were illiterate. Majority (58.34 %) of the Women Self Help Group (WSHG) members belonged to Other Backward Class (OBC) caste group, 67.50 per cent were engaged in farming main occupation, 61.67 per cent members of WSHGs possessed semi cemented houses. The majority of respondents 55.83 per cent had less than 1 ha land, 55.00 per cent respondents had their annual income from Rs. 1.0 lac to 2.0 lac per annum from all sources because of people were not well aware about agriculture due to lake of interest to get knowledge about agriculture. Data regarding utilization level of respondents in women empowerment programmed that the more than half of the respondents (63.33%) had medium level utilization level of respondents in women empowerment programmed. Most of them joined SHGs to meet their family expenses and of them to meet unexpected expenditure. Monthly savings is high after joining SHGs as compares before joining. Most of them promote their savings and 20.83% increase their family income and improves living standard.