1. INTRODUCTION:

In India, traditionally women enjoyed equal rights and equal participation in the society (Ratna Kapur,2010). At present women constitute around 50% of the work workforce in our human resource reserves. Despite being equally involved in the workforce and almost capable of executing tasks similarly with same efficacy as that of men, women are under privileged than men (Nandita Agrawal, 1984). This under privileged condition arise due to the imposed social, economic and cultural constraints by not only men but also by the women, who possess unorthodox mind sets.

The problem of under privileged conditions of women in social and cultural aspects is now turned as a curse in India. This problem is at its worst in some of the rural and backward areas of India. The problem is so notorious that sometimes under privileged and socially backward women are being accused of practising witchcraft. To deal with these cursed conditions Government of India along with active participation of State Government of Chhattisgarh has started women empowerment programs such as Self-help group (SHG), formation of cooperative society and employment guarantee etc. Under these programmes the most effective and significant is the promotion of Self-Help groups and their linkages with the Bank. This program is one of the most cost effective machinery to provide easy financial services to the unreached poor women. The SHGs are group of women that manages their own micro finances to strengthen the socio-economic capabilities of the group members.

The effect of SHGs is that the women now has a ready availability to cash. Cash in hand at time of need improves self-esteem as well as raises the social rank of woman in her society. This gives a sense of self dependency and liberty to lead a sustainable respectful life in the society.

SHGs and their impact is well known today. However, in Chhattisgarh the concept is relatively new and even newer in Nagri Block of Dhamtari district. The block is rural and backward in terms of services and resources and hence managing finances is tedious job for women in the region. This study analyses the change in economic status brought about by the introduction of SHGs in the region.

2. CURRENT STATE OF KNOWLEDGE:

The following already conducted noteworthy research works were analysed while conducting this study

1. Suchitra, 1986, in her study revealedthat if a woman joins a SHG the following three things are about to get improved in woman namely finances, employment and self-confidence

2. Meenu Agrawal, 2007, stated that the empowerment of woman joining SHG happens indirectly. In SHGs improvement of finances and elementary education status is what focused upon. Hence improvement in financial status and education status indirectly empowers the women.

3. Aruna Kumra, 2009, concluded that primary jobs picked up by SHGs include poultry farming, mid -day meal preparation and fisheries. All these areas are either promoted by state government and are subsidised, hence profit margin is significant and sufficient to let the SHG members lead a respectful sustainable life.

4. Kamla Ganesh, 2009, indicated that most effective change that SHGs have brought in is the increase in level of self-confidence in group members

3. METHODOLOGY:

The study area of the region is Nagri Block of Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh state. The 59 developed villages, 52 general villages while 24 backward villages. The economic condition of women in these villages were matter of attention. Since the introduction of SHGs in the region it seems like the problem is reducing, but this needs to be inferentially studied. The primary data collected for the study was collected from 60 SHGs and 5 respondents from each group. In all 300 responses were collected for the study.

For the above stated problems, the study was carried using a self-administered questionnaire that focused on the following aspects: -

1. The decision making ability of women in preparation of household budgets and finances after joining the SHGs

2. Ability to go for treatment of ailing family members by allopathyafter joining the SHGs

3. Ability to independently decide regarding purchase of jewelleryafter joining the SHGs

The data so collected was tabulated and Chi-square test was applied on it. The following hypothesis were tested for the study using the chi-square analysis.

H_a0: There is no difference in decision making ability of women in preparation of household budgets and finances after joining SHG

H_a1:There is difference in decision making ability of women in preparation of household budgets and finances after joining SHG

H_b0:There is no difference in ability of women to decide to go for allopathic treatment of ailing family member after joining SHG

H_b1:There is difference in ability of women to decide to go for allopathic treatment of ailing family member after joining SHG

H_c0:There is no difference in ability of women to independently to go for purchase of household appliances after joining SHG

H_c1:There is difference in ability of women to independently to go for purchase of household appliances after joining SHG

4. ANALYSIS:

Table 1 shows the responses of the survey participants regarding the question related to ability to make decisions related to household budgeting.

Table 1: Theresponse for question related to ability to make decisions related to household budgeting

Response	Before Joining SHG	After Joining SHG
Household budgeting decision making – Yes	44	181
Household budgeting decision making – No	256	119

From the table it is visible that only 44 members had the ability to make decision in household budgeting while 256 members did not have the ability before joining SHGs. The response further indicates that number for making decisions related to household budgeting changed to 181 after joining SHGs, while 119 still did not have the decision making ability related to household budgeting. The Chi-Square test indicates p-value (p= 8.4188 X 10^-59) less than 0.05 (5% significance level). Hence it can be said that H_a0 is rejected and there is difference in decision making ability of women in preparation of household budgets and finances after joining SHG.

Table 2 shows the responses of the survey participants regarding the question related to ability to go for treatment of ailing family members by allopathy after joining the SHGs

Table 2: The response for question related to ability to go for treatment of ailing family members by allopathy after joining the SHGs

Response	Before Joining SHG	After Joining SHG
Health and treatment decision making – Yes	21	155
Health and treatment decision making – No	279	145

From the table it is visible that only 21 members had the decision making ability related to treatment of ailment of family members by allopathy methods. An on field survey indicated that penetration of modern medical science is still missing in the societies of the region and people there still stick to treatment through community priest instead of doctors. Women joining SHGs become aware of modern medical science and its ability through interactions with health officers such as “Anganbadi” employees, thus the number of women seeking for modern methods of treatment for ailing family members increased to 155. The Chi-Square test indicates p-value less than 0.05 (p = 4.6191X10^-54), hence H_b0 is rejected.

Table 3 shows the responses of the survey participants regarding the question related to ability of women to independently to go for purchase of household appliances after joining SHG

Table 3: The response for question related to ability of women to independently to go for purchase of household appliances after joining SHG

Response	Before Joining SHG	After Joining SHG
decision making for purchase of household appliances – Yes	203	211
decision making for purchase of household appliances – No	97	89

From the table it is visible the there is no major change in the decision making ability related to purchase of household appliances in women before and after joining SHGs. This might be due to the fact that household appliances are required for managing and effectively running the daily household tasks which in general is taken care by the women of the house. A Chi-Square test indicates p-value greater than 0.05 (p = 0.38). Hence H_c0 is no rejected.

5. CONCLUSION:

The study indicates that

1. Easy availability of cash after joining SHG increase the self-esteem and social rank of women in the family. This is reflected in analysis outcome. The women joining SHGs have a better command on preparation of household budgeting as their sense of managing the finances increases as well as they take care that the hard earned money is utilized for the tasks that are productive and are for betterment of family members.

2. SHGs increase the education level of women joining it. This is done through evening schools or by conducting daily elementary study classes for the members. Education increase the awareness related to progress of science. Hence more and more women opt for treatment of ailing family member through modern medical science rather than treatment through village priest.

3. No change was noticed related to the ability of members to purchase household appliances.

6. REFERENCES:

1. Aruna Kumara: Women Involvement In Dairy Cooperatives, Cooperative Prespective, Vol.24 No.2, July-Sept 2009.

2. Ganesh, Kamla, Gender: Between Family And State, Economic And Political Weekly, Vol.28, No.43, Oct. 2009.

3. Kapur, Ratna, Communalising Gender/Engineering Community Women, Legal Discourde And Saffron Agenda, Economic And Political Weekly, Vol. XXVII, No.43, Oct. 2010

4. Agarawal, Nandita : Women education and Population in India, Chugh Publications, Delhi, 1984

5. Agarwal, Meenu (ed), Women Empowerment : Today’s Vision for Tomorrows Mission, Mahamaya Publishing House, New Delhi, 2007.

6. Anant, Suchitra, Women at Work in India: A Bibliography, Sage Publications, New Delhi, 1986.

Received on 15.04.2016 Modified on 18.05.2016

Int. J. Ad. Social Sciences 4(2): April- June, 2016; Page 58-60