Ch. Sujatha Gangadhar
Research Scholar, Ex-Registrar
Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Advanced Studies (JNIAS)
6th Floor, Buddha Bhawan, M.G Road, Secunderabad – 500003
Telangana State, India
M.S Bhat
Director (Retd)
School of Management Studies, JNTU
Kukatpally, Hyderabad
Telangana State, India
P. Malyadri
Principal
Government Degree College, Srisailam Projects
Andhra Pradesh, India
Abstract
The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the impact of Self Help Group (SHG) program on empowerment in the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) women in Karimnagar District of Telangana State. This study has used four (4) factors or indicators to evaluate the SC and ST women empowerment namely Economic Security (ES), Household Economic Decision Making (HEDM), Communication (COM) and Mobility (MOB). The empirical study was conducted on SHG members belonging to SC and ST category through a structured questionnaire. The responses were obtained for “Before participation in the SHG programme” and “After participation in the SHG programme” The primary study revealed that microfinance programs have not been successful in providing Economic Security and in having positive impact on the Household Economic Decision Making and Mobility but had been successful in enhancing the Communication Skills among the SC and ST women after participation in the SHG programme.
Key words: Microfinance, Women empowerment, Factors of empowerment, Self help groups, Z test.
