SWOT ANALYSIS OF THE SELF HELP GROUP WOMEN MEMBERS - AN EMPIRICAL STUDY (Pages 121-128) by Mr. Jagadeesh. B in THE INTERNATIONAL MANAGER / ISSN: 2348-9413 (Online); 2348-9405 (Print)

In any society the status of women is an indicator of the level of its development. In the words of Gandhiji, “A woman is the companion of man gifted with equal mental capacities. She has the right to participate in all walks of life along with men. She has the same right of freedom and liberty as men. By sheer force of a vicious custom even the most ignorant and worthless men have been enjoying superiority over women who they do not deserve and ought not to have”. Gender inequalities tend to be greater among the poor, contribute to significant risk vulnerability in the case of personal or family crisis and during economic shocks. Women are excluded from access to productive resources, public services or employment that resulted reduction in output and productivity. The experience in developing countries shows that provision of small credit to the poor through the linkage process contributes to the process of rural development by creating conditions that are conducive to human development. It is reported that significant changes in the living standards of SHG members have taken place in terms of increase in income level, assets, savings, borrowing capacity and income generating activities. Moreover the participation of women in the economic activities and decision-making at the household and at the society level is increasing and is making the rural development process participatory, democratic and sustainable.
Key Words: economic shocks, gender inequalities, economic activities, management qualities, employment generation.