ROLE OF SELF HELP GROUPS IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHANGE OF VULNERABLE POOR OF JAMMU REGION

Abstract

Self help groups (SHGs) have appeared as popular method of working in the company of people in recent years. This movement comes from the people's desires to meet their needs and determine their own destines through the principle the people, for the people and of the people. The present paper is a descriptive study of the SHGs promoted by Gramudyog Hastakala Kendra, an NGO working for promotion of SHGs in Kathua District of Jammu region in India. A sample of 10 SHGs consisting of 162 members have been taken to study the various aspects of the SHGs viz. educational profile, economic status and occupational pattern etc. pre and post SHG formation. It is found that most of the members of SHGs are economically weak. The overall findings of the study suggest that SHG - Bank Linkage Programme has significantly improved the access to financial services for the rural poor and has considerable positive impact on the socio- economic conditions and the reduction of poverty of SHG members and their households. It has also empowered women members substantially and contributed to increased self- confidence and positive behavioral changes in the post-SHG period as compared to the pre-SHG period.