MINOR RESEARCH PROJECT IN COMMERCE

UGC SANCTION NO: MRP (H) – 969/10-11/KABA045/UGC-SWRO

PROJECT TITLED:

“IMPACT OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

THROUGH SELF-HELP GROUPS: A MICRO
LEVEL STUDY IN RURAL KARNATAKA”
(A Study in Kolar District of Karnataka)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Submitted By

MOHAMMED ASHFAQUE. Z
Principal Investigator –UGC MRP
Assistant Professor
St. Joseph’s College of Commerce
Bangalore

Submitted to

The Deputy Secretary

University Grants Commission
South Western Regional Office
Bangalore
 Executive Summary

“No, these women needed opportunity, not charity – They want chance, not
bleeding hearts” – Prof. Mohammed Yunus

Women in our country are often looked down to be the helpless, needy for support, often being
ignored in terms of their basic development and exposure to external world unlike men in the
society at large. This phenomenon is typical to our country India, where most of the literature
authors and social scientists often refer to the status of women being dependent; on father during
childhood, on husband during youth and middle age and on son during old age. As a fact also
when looked upon by several social scientists, it has also been observed that, when women folks
are educated and trained appropriately, the upliftment is not restricted to only the person trained
but the light is spread to the whole family followed by the society at large.

Hence, this Research study has been focused towards the empowerment of women through this
most common, very highly effective, recently popularized and realized, concept of Self-Help
Groups. The study was conducted in Kolar district of Karnataka State. As this particular region
has a profile which is surrounded by various neglected issues as highlighted by ‘District Census
Hand-book’ (2011) reports on this area having a favorable population structure with a
geographical issue being drought driven, a constituency having the backward population on the
higher side and the most important a higher number of women Self-Help Groups present. After
independence the Government of India mainly adopted the welfare oriented approaches as for as
women’s issues are concerned. Development of women and children is at the core of nation’s
human resources development efforts. The National Perspective plan for women (NPP)
advocating a holistic approach for social and economic development of women.

Design of the Study:

The research study begins with a background discussion about the way in which women folks
are treated in India, later examines the unemployment and poverty in rural areas and why low-
income persons seek self-employment as a viable option towards building social and human
capital to work towards poverty alleviation. It furthers by examining the profile of the study area
with reference to the history, geography, culture, population composition and economic status of
the region. The highlight of the introduction being the draught effect of the region. It moves on
to a discussion of a qualitative analysis the impact of SHGs on individual members, family, and
community life, changes in skills, knowledge, and attitudes, successful outcomes, and the
development of human and social capital. Utilizing these findings, effectiveness of Women
SHGs in the promotion of self-development is discussed, suggesting that socializing for a
development purpose is a viable option for poverty alleviation, and community’s economic and
sustainable development.

Review:

This research study examines the Effectiveness of Women SHGs in the promotion of
independence and self-development in Kolar district of Karnataka State, specifically, the
development of social and human capital through institutional development to work towards
poverty alleviation. The growing commercialization of rural economy, increasing dependence of
agriculture on external inputs, mobilizations of savings towards construction and the growing
education have opened up new vistas for the group-based development in India. Sustainable
development of Women Self-help groups in the study area are undergoing remarkable changes
with the influence of various governmental schemes and also training imparted to them towards
their economic life improvement. The Government in different plan documents advocates the
women’s issues and has tried to create an environment, in which women’s issues can be reflected
and articulated, not only by the Government but by voluntary agencies. Some of the important
policy guiding documents include, the nation of Action for women (NPA) adopted in 1976 The
National Perspective Plan for women (NPP, 1988-2000) adopted by a fourteen members
committee, advocating a holistic approach for social and economic development of women.

Objectives:

The project has the following objectives.

1. To study the growth of women self help groups in rural Karnataka

2. To discuss the various Government policies and schemes available to boost the morale of
such groups.

3. To find the possibility of new ideas that could help the formation of such groups.

4. To project the problem areas that hinders the growth of such groups.

5. To study and analyze the feasibility of the new innovations.

Data Collection Method:

The research study has been carried out on an empirical basis. The data for the study were
collected through, both Primary and Secondary sources. The Primary Data Source being,
structured questions based interview method from 18 villages, belonging to Mulbagal, Malur and
Kolar taluks of Kolar District. The Secondary data sources have been reports from planning
commission, The Ministry of Women and Child Development, Department of Women and Child
Development – Government of Karnataka, National commission for women, Magazines,
Newspapers and online sources of various ministry and NGO web-sites.

Sampling Design and Tools Used:

The data was collected by interviewing respondents from Women Self-Help Groups in Kolar
District of Karnataka State, the administrative officers and village heads. A structured
questionnaire based data collection, was effected from members of Women Self-Help Groups,
Treasurers and heads of the groups on a convenience basis. An interview schedule was created
on a pre-test, having employed pilot test methodology. The sample sizes considered for the study
consist of questionnaires collected from 345 members. The data was analyzed using statistical
tools such as: ratios, percentages, standard deviation, chi-square test and T-test. There was
extensive use of SPSS package for analysis of data.

Major Findings and Conclusion:

During the conduct of the study, it was duly observed that in-spite of the bureaucratic
involvement being a very tedious procedure for groups to realize the schemes provided by the
Government, it has come as a boon to the groups bonding and development. Where this
hindrance has been utilized as a positive factor for the groups to come closer and help each other.
It has also been observed that the Self-Help Groups have developed a confidence in the women
folks to handle their personal problem and societal problems in a better way. This factor indeed
brought a lot of motivation and self-respect at the family level as well as the society to the
women folks in this area. It was also observed that the bureaucratic procedures being intricate
and lengthy is justified, as it was observed that the culture prevalent in the rural areas of the
study, most of the time forces the scheme implementation authorities to implement the procedure
in the respective manner.
To conclude, it was a fruitful experience towards observing the Women Self-Help Groups
steadily progressing towards getting exposure to the various intricate realities of the external
world unlike their male counter parts and taking effective steps towards self development and
also lending a hand to help every other woman folk develop and upgrade themselves on a
constructive note.