Self help group (SHG) in India: a path toward empowerment and poverty reduction

ABSTRACT In rural India, poverty and unemployment constitute a vicious cycle. Unemployment is caused by poverty, while poverty is caused by unemployment. The vast bulk of poverty reduction programmes consists of community development activities, which include self help group (SHG) operations. These groups do a tremendous lot for rural communities, including improving the quality of life and generating employment through microcredit. Economic empowerment (financial stability) and social empowerment (social standing and self-confidence) are required to empower the poor. Empowerment will result from expanding mental and non-mental spaces that enable action and voice to enhance life quality. Planners and policymakers demand strategic planning for rural women’s social and economic empowerment in the country’s states, as most women joined SHGs for economic empowerment and family welfare. Reviewing articles, theses, and books yielded the findings of this study. India’s best lesson is to employ SHGs for anti-poverty and women’s empowerment which social workers can serve considerably.