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Self-Help Groups: A Strategy for Poverty Alleviation in Rural Nagaland, India

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Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Economics, Pondicherry University, Puducherry – 605014, INDIA

Int. Res. J. Social Sci., Volume 3, Issue (6), Pages 23-32, June,14 (2014)

Abstract

Empowerment is an ambiguous and controversial term. Ambiguity arises from the fact that different people hold and promote different ideas or significations of the term, while controversy results from the over-ambitious claims made about the empowering ability of NGO programmes, including micro-finance. It is truly difficult to imagine how such tiny loan programmes operated by private individuals could bring about fundamental changes in the economic and social structures responsible for the disempowerment of women in developing countries. This paper is about examining the impact of Self help groups (SHGs) micro-financing on poverty alleviation and well-being of the rural poor women in Nagaland, a North-East State in India, where credit infrastructure development is still inadequate. Using primary data, the study analyzed the factors determining income generation and productive efficiency of the SHG credit among poor women in rural Nagaland during February-March 2011. The results revealed the credit to have significantly improved their economic status and household wellbeing. It also led to their empowerment, independence and social participation. The study recommended training them for better competitiveness and employment activities, besides assisting with marketing facilities. Universities can assume a significant rule in this effort.

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