A STUDY ON FUNCTIONING AND IMPACT OF SELF HELP GROUPS PROMOTED UNDER ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMME EASTERN REGION (ALP/E) IN AFGHANISTAN
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Date
2008-08-16
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University of Agricultural Sciences GKVK, Banglore
Abstract
Formation of Self Help Groups (SHGs) has greatly helped rural people to
understand their rights, freedom of expression, confidence building and access to
credit, improve their personality and respect in the society. Considering the
importance of SHGs promoted by ALP/E, the study was conceptualized with the
objectives; to study the functioning of SHGs, to assess the socio-economic and
psychological impact of SHGs on members, to find out the perception on
motivational pattern for membership and usefulness of SHGs, to know the
association between personal, socio-economic characteristics of members and
effective functioning of SHGs and their impact on members, to document the
problems and suggestions. The study was conducted during 2007 in Nangarhare
and Laghman provinces situated in eastern region of Afghanistan, considering 30
SHGs and 120 respondents. The data were collected by using pre tested structured
questionnaire. The major findings related to the functioning of SHGs revealed
that, a considerable proportion of the SHGs handled the commodities at a 'high'
level (40.00%). Like wise a sizeable proportion of the SHGs functioned at
'medium' level related to the dimension viz., attendance of members in meetings
(46.60%), members involvement in decision making and freedom to participate in
activities (50.00%), number of marketing channels used and extent of facilities
received (53.40%). The overall socio-economic and psychological impact of
SHGs on members in terms of before and after joining SHGs was highly
^ significant with paired 't' value at one percent level. There was significant
association between effectiveness of functioning and socio-economic and
psychological impact of SHGs on members at 5 per cent level of probability.
Solving financial problems (100.00%) followed by 'improving savings' and to
obtain 'market information' were the priority motivational patterns. Extension
contact, occupation and social participation were significantly associated with
effective functioning of SHGs. The problems pertained to non availability of
interest free loan, lack of adequate education and income derived is too little.
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