Umesh, K. B.BHAVYA, K. V.2017-06-122017-06-122009-07-12Th-9398http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810019498Sthree Shakthi is an approach through which efforts are being made by the government with the intension to pool both human and material resources and empower women in rural areas.The study aimed at assessing the socio-economic profile, cost and returns of income-generating activities, impact of micro-finance and magnitude of empowerment of Sthree Shakti Group members (SSG) in Doddaballapura taluk of Bangalore Rural district. Primary data was collected from 100 SSG members and 30 non-SSG members with the help of pre-tested and structured schedule for the year 2007-08. The findings of the study reveal, that 80 per cent of SSG members and only 17 per cent of non-SSG members had institutional participation. The total annual income of SSG members was Rs.1,15,745 while it was Rs.53,693 in case of non-SSG members. Returns per rupee of cost from diary, sheep and goatery, tailoring, flower vending and laundry was 1.74, 2.34, 1.98, 1.70 and 2.69 respectively in case of SSG members. The loan amount borrowed per member of SSG member was Rs.3312 and it was Rs.1687 in case of non-SSG members. The savings per member in SSG was Rs.2233 compared to non-SSG (Rs. 1275). SSG members possessed assets like borewells , pump sets , sewing machines through SSG finance, while non-members created assets like borewells and pump sets by loan utilization. SSG members were able to get an additional employment of 50-80 days per annum under different activities due to SSG finance.81per cent of SSG members had high economic empowerment while only 14 per cent of non-SSG members had high economic empowerment. Since SSGs play a major role in empowering women in terms of social, economical and capacity building, there is a need to encourage more of SSGs. The study also reveals that the performance of NGO promoted SSG members was better than Govt.promoted SSGs. Hence, the participation of NGOs should be encouraged to promote more number of SSGs covering the entire women folks.ennullThesis