ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF TRIBAL WOMEN THROUGH SHGs IN DAHOD DISTRICT OF GUJARAT
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Date
2017
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AAU, Anand
Abstract
The study entitled “Economic Empowerment of tribal women through SHGs in Dahod district of Gujarat” was undertaken to examine the socio-economic empowerment index of SHG members and non-members, income and employment generation, financial performance of SHGs and their members, impact of SHGs on tribal migration and problems faced by SHG members. To arrive at the objectives, multistage sampling technique was used. The data related to the period of 2015-2016 were collected from the selected 20 SHGs and 120 respondents i.e. 60 SHG members and 60 non-members spread over two talukas viz., Dahod and Garbada of Dahod district by survey method using interview schedule.
The study revealed that the average family size of SHGs members was found little higher (5.93) as compared to the non-members (5.73).
The education level was also little high of SHG member as compared to the non-members. Those educated up to high school, intermediate and above graduate level were observed to be 21.66, 11.66 and 6.66 per cent of women in SHG members, while it was 11.66, 8.33 per cent and 3.33 per cent, respectively in case of non-members.
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The average livestock unit owned by the SHG members and non-members was 6.05 per cent and 4.45 per cent, respectively. Members kept more numbers of livestock than non-members. It was observed that sheep, goat and buffaloes were generally kept by the members was higher in the study area.
The average economic empowerment index was 54.07 per cent in SHG members which was significantly higher than the 49.53 per cent of non-members and the average social empowerment index was 75.89 per cent in SHG members which was also significantly higher than the 40.43 per cent of non-members. This shows that the positive impact of the SHGs in economic and social status of the members. The average combined socio-economic empowerment index was high 68.11 per cent for SHG members as compared to non-members 43.68 per cent. This clearly indicated that the significant improvement in socio-economic empowerment indexes of SHG members as compared to non-members.
Major findings of the study revealed that, the average income for SHG member households was higher from agriculture and livestock (₹ 20,962.60 and ₹ 20,469.03) as compared to non-members households (₹ 18,480.50 and ₹ 14,806.83), respectively. SHG members earned additional income ₹ 8375.72 (12.88 % of total income) by participating in SHG activities. There was significantly positive impact on the income of the members as SHGs earned significantly more income as compared to non-members.
The study also revealed that by participating in SHGs activities employment opportunities was higher (agriculture sector 88.31 man
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days per annum and livestock 44.50 man days per annum) for SHG members as compared to non-members (agriculture sector 75.83 man days per annum and livestock 29.15 man days per annum). SHGs member provide additional employment 83.50 per cent from SHG activities.
Further, the findings of the study revealed that, the average financial performance of SHGs. The thrift credit ratio (0.54) was higher. The outstanding ratio was lower (0.06). Similarly, the average recovery ratio was 74.29 per cent which may be due to the respondent households being more serious in timely recovery of loan within the specific time period.
The result of the repayment capacity of the SHG members was higher at ₹ 3416.58 as compared to ₹ 800.27 of non-members after meeting all expenses. This may be due to the SHG members has relatively higher annual gross income from agriculture, livestock and other sources (₹ 65,009.85) as compared to the non-members (₹ 52,184.94).
In order to determine the repayment capacity functions for the SHG members. The coefficient of multiple determinations (R2) for the members was 0.93 which indicated that the specified variables (X1, X2, and X5) explained 93 per cent of total variation in repayment capacity. . It is inferred that among the variables gross income was found positive and significant at 1 per cent level of significance it means one per cent increase in the gross income resulted in an increase of 0.85 per cent in
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repayment capacity of members. While in case of working expenses it was negative and significant.
Major findings of the study revealed that, the migration in SHG members was observed 23.33 per cent while it was 48.33 per cent in non-members. The number of members migrated from members groups was also less (22 members) as compare to non-members (40 members). 57.17 per cent households were migrated up to 1 to 4 months from migrated SHG members group. In case of non-members, 86.20 per cent households were migrated up to 5 to 8 months. Thus, The SHGs reduced the migration up to some extent and shortened the length of out-migration period.
The major constraints faced by the SHG members were lack of education (64.25 %) and lack of motivation (57.46 %) in social constraints category, high transaction cost (74.01 %) and lack of marketing facility (60.53 %) in economic constraints category and lack of awareness (63.61 %) and lack of training (58.05 %) among the members in the technical constraints category.
In nutshell, the study shows that the main reason for joining SHG is not be merely to get just credit, it is an empowerment process after joining the SHGs the women are economically and socially empowered. The SHGs have been shown to be a cost effective way to help and meet the social and economic need of individuals and families dealing with the problems in their living. Thus, SHGs may have the potential to contribute significantly to women and their family development in the rural and tribal area.
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Keywords
Agriculture, economics, EMPOWERMENT