Capacity Building and Social Characteristics of SHGs in Bargarh District of Orissa

 

Mrs. Manju Mahananda¹ and Dr. Anshu²

¹Assistant Professor ( Sr. Scale ), Human Development and Family Studies, Department of Home Science, Ethelind School of Home Science, Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad -211007

²Associate Professor, Human Development and Family Studies, Department of Home Science, Ethelind School of Home Science, Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad -211007

 

ABSTRACT:

Self-help Groups (SHGs) are usually informal groups whose members have a common perception of need and importance towards collective action. The number of members in each Self-help group is normally ranged from ten to twenty. It is expected that within the group, there should be true democratic culture in which all the members must participate actively in the decision making process by taking part in the discussion .The objectives of the study were to find out the Capacity building and social characteristics of SHGs in Bargarh District of Orissa. The total sample size was 150 Self-help Groups (SHGs). Bargarh District of Orissa has been selected purposively for the study. The data was collected by using purposive sampling method. A self constructed   interview schedule was prepared to collect the desired information with the help of experts from respective fields. Data was analyzed by frequencies and percentages. The results revealed that majority of the Self-help Groups (SHGs) were benefited by the Lecturers of imminent persons  to develop capacity building .majority of the Self-help Groups (SHGs)  held meeting  with Government Officers  and maximum number of Self-help Groups (SHGs) gave their opinion about Appropriate choice of leader  and Undergo training for capacity building. The findings also that majority of the Self-help Groups (SHGs) helps to solved community problems and showed Group involvement. A reasonable high percentage of Self-help Groups (SHGs) within / out side the village and have more social contact.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

The rural women are one of the most marginalized groups in our society. To bring this large mass to the main stream of the society from the vicious chain of male dominance, women led Self Help Groups (SHGs) can play a very crucial role. Self-help movement among the rural poor, especially women in different parts of the country, is emerging as a very reliable and efficient mode in rural development through encouraging the women participation, which leads to empowerment of women (Chawdhury and Ray 2005).

 

The process of women's empowerment is conceptualized in terms of personal assertions and confidence, ability to protect themselves as women, attaining economic independence, ownership of productive assets and provide leadership in both women and community related issues at all levels.

 

Empowerment of women, means being able to avoid shyness, have courage for speaking, provide abilities to get in touch with self realities, overcome hesitation and tentativeness, recognize and accept her capabilities and limitations,  articulate her desires and convert them into objectivity, enhance self- confidence and acquire needed abilities to develop a will to achieve the desired goal. People who are homogeneous with respect to social background and heritage come together for a common cause to raise and manage resources for the benefit of the group members. Self-help groups are now gaining acceptance as an alternative system of credit delivery especially to people who are the poorest of the poor. Self-help groups develop and sustain group coherence with group support. Members are encouraged to try new skills and discover qualities and abilities previously unknown. (Yadav et. al, 2005).So the present study is an attempt to find out the Capacity building and social characteristics of SHGs in Bargarh District of Orissa

 

OBJECTIVES:

The major objectives of the study  are to ascertain Capacity building and social characteristics of SHGs in Bargarh District of Orissa. The specific objectives of the study are as follow:

1.      To  find out the Capacity building characteristics of SHGs in Bargarh District of Orissa

2.      To determine the social characteristics of SHGs in the study area.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

An exploratory research design was adopted for the study and Orissa has been selected purposively for research. The survey method was selected by using purposive sampling for the collection of data. The total sample size was 150 SHGs. Bargarh District of Orissa has been selected purposively for the study. The data was collected by using purposive sampling method. A self constructed   interview schedule was prepared to collect the desired information with the help of experts from respective fields. All questions are Multi response Questions. Data was analyzed by frequencies and percentages.

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

The present study on “Capacity building and social characteristics of SHGs in Bargarh District of Orissa.” is an attempt to find out the capacity building and social characteristics of SHGs in Bargarh District of Orissa. The data collected was analyzed in the light of the objectives of the study and the findings have been presented under the following heads:

1.1    Capacity building characteristics of SHGs in Bargarh District of Orissa

1.2    Social characteristics of SHGs in the study area.

 

1.1 Capacity building characteristics of SHGs in Bargarh District of Orissa:

This section deals with the information related to Capacity building characteristics of SHGs in Bargarh District of Orissa N=150

 

The table no 1.1 and (Fig no 1.1) showed  the  data pertaining to local women organizations according to their Capacity Building & Leadership characteristics shows that 91.33 percent organizations worked for appropriate choice of leader followed by participation in developmental programme (66.00 %),  undergo training for capacity building(53.33 %),  visits Exhibitions/ Mela (54.00%)and lecturers by imminent persons (83.33 %), A reasonable proportion of organizations  worked for meeting Government Officers (82.67 %) percent followed by division of duties by members and leaders (80.00 %) and basket making(29.33 %) and organized individual meeting with local people by the member of the organization (50.00 %). The fact was supported by Singh etal  (2007)  who found that almost all the group characteristics had positive and significant relationships. The SHGs followed normal patterns of group behavior. A greater percentage of women were impacted positively by being members of SHGs. Women's participation in SHGs enabled them to discover inner strength, gain self confidence, social and economic empowerment and capacity building. Women also gave suggestions for strengthening their groups and actively participated in them.

 

 

Social characteristics of SHGs in the study area:

This section deals with the information related to Social characteristics of SHGs in the study area. N=150

 

Social characteristics of organization	Frequency	Percentage
To solve community problems/ issued	84	56.00
Group involvement	150	100.00
To socialize within / out side the village	78	52.00
To have more social contact	85	56.67

 

It can be inferred from the table no 1.1 and (Fig no 1.1) relating to Social characteristics of organization (Fig. 4.1.) that 100.00 percent organization worked as a group involvement and 56.00 percent organization worked to solve community problems/ issued. The results also picture that 56.67 percent organization worked to have more social contact and 52.00 percent organization worked to socialize within / out side the village. The fact was supported by Mani, etal  (2008)  who found that 86.69% got improved recognition for themselves; 69.33% felt that the SHG eliminates social inequalities. An SHG is a homogenous group of rural poor, voluntarily formed to save whatever amount they can do so from their earnings and mutually agree to contribute to a common fund of the group. It has become the women's own movement leading to their social, economic and political empowerment.,

 

CONCLUSION:

It is concluded from the study  that majority of the Self-help Groups (SHGs) were benefited by the Lecturers of imminent persons  to develop capacity building .majority of the Self-help Groups (SHGs)  held meeting  with Government Officers  and maximum number of Self-help Groups (SHGs) gave their opinion about Appropriate choice of leader  and Undergo training for capacity building. The findings also that majority of the Self-help Groups (SHGs)   helps to solved community problems and showed Group involvement. A reasonable high percentage of Self-help Groups (SHGs) within / out side the village and  have more social contact.

 

REFERENCES:

Ahmad (2005). Challenges to extension: Technological empowerment of farmwomen National Seminar on Green to Evergreen: Challenge to Extension Education. December 15 –17: 148.

Anupam, K. and Sujan, D. K. (2005). Empowerment of women.  National Seminar on Green to Evergreen: Challenges to Extension Education. December 15-17:145.

Chawdhury, S. and Ray, P. (2005). Self-help groups – A way to women empowerment. National seminar on green to evergreen: Challenges to Extension Education. D ecember-17:132-133.

Goyal, A.; Kulshrestha, R.; Gakkhar, A. and Anand, P. (2005). Empowerment of rural women through self helps groups for human resource development under district poverty initiatives project (D.P.I.P). National Seminar on Green to Evergreen: Challenges to Extension Education. December 15-17: 136.

Mani, T. S. D. Selavaraj, V. M2008.. Women empowerment through self help groups in Rediyarpatti village. Indian Cooperative Review; 45(4):294-299. 3 ref.

Singh, Y. K. Kaushal, S. K. Gautam, S. S. 2007. Performance of women's self help groups (SHGs) in district Moradabad, U.P. International Journal of Rural Studies; 14(2):17-20. 3 ref.

Yadav, L.; Jayanti; Neetima and vandana (2005). Capacity building of farm women through SHGs. National Seminar on Green to Evergreen:Challenges to Extension Education. December 15-17:132.

 

Received on 16.05.2014       Modified on 08.06.2014

Accepted on 28.06.2014      © A&V Publication all right reserved