Unveiling Economic Transformation: Assessing the Impact of SHGs in Empowering Scheduled Caste Women of Ramgarh District in Jharkhand, India

Abstract

Breaking down the barriers, challenging stereotypes, and promoting inclusivity, the empowerment of SC (Scheduled Caste) women in Jharkhand is a beacon of hope for a future where every woman can thrive with dignity and opportunity. Empowering SC women in Jharkhand is a vital journey toward justice and equality. And this can only be achieved through creating awareness among them about those initiatives which uplift them. Through initiatives like Self-help Groups (SHGs), they are not only gaining financial independency but also developing essential skills and raising their voices to be heard in the communities. This empowerment isn't just about individual progress; it's a key to fostering positive change in society. This research paper investigates deeply into the transformative effects of the SHGs on the economic empowerment of SC women in the Ramgarh District of Jharkhand. Wilcoxon signed-rank test has been used in this research paper, which is an appropriate choice for evaluating the before-and-aftereffects of SHG membership on individuals. The data has been taken from five different blocks of Ramgarh district (Gola, Mandu, Chitarpur, Ramgarh, Patratu). This research reveals a statistically significant improvement in the economic factors after participating in SHGs, underscoring the substantial positive influence of SHG on the economic empowerment of SC women in Ramgarh. Moreover, this research paper goes beyond the numbers to offer insightful recommendations for empowering scheduled caste women through SHG in Ramgarh district.