Rijul Sihag
Ph.D. Scholars
Deptt. of Sociology
CCSHAU, Hisar-125001
Savita Vermani
Professor
Deptt. of Sociology
CCSHAU, Hisar-125001
Abstract
The concept of Self Help Groups (SHGs) is n important instrument for the economic empowerment of women. SHG is an organization of rural poor, particularly of women from same social status that undertake the common economic activity. It generates income and also provides flexible working hours according to the needs of homemakers. Participation in income generating activities helps in the overall empowerment of women. Many programmes have been initiated by the government agencies to uplift the rural women economically. Thus to investigate the empowerment of women through entrepreneurial activities of self help groups, this particular research was conducted with the specific objective to investigate the effectiveness of SHGs actively working under the Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hast Shilp Yojana (AHVY) in Haryana. A total of 300 respondents from four villages of two districts of Haryana formed the sample size of the study. A number of income generating activities were undertaken by the members after joining SHGs. The result showed positive changes as indicated in terms of improvement in income, employment status and savings after joining the SHG. Thus the study concluded that SHGs have been playing a vital role in the empowerment of rural women in the study area.
