The Changing Empowerment Scenarios in Rural Allahabad in the Era of Economic Reforms

 

Shashi Pandey

 

ABSTRACT:

This paper focuses on how the SHG women engaged from the economic activities after the intervention of SHG and what is the outcome of the development organization in account of women empowerment. Using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions this study documents women's perceptions about the changes brought about by SHG programmes. Women hold that numerous significant and positive changes took place at individual, familial and community levels. They feel that they have gained greater access and control over resources. Further, the relationship of women with their family members has improved.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

There are rise of empowerment during the last decade as one of the main paradigms for development. The concept of empowerment is understood in many ways depending on the socio-cultural and political framework. To explore confined words associated to the concept of empowerment is difficult for the grassroots level. Worldwide organizations, contributor agencies and different author interpret the concept differently. Some argues that empowerment may be the means to an end or it can be considered an end in and of itself (an individual or group that empowers itself). The focus of this interpretation considers that the process begins with the individual and only through the latter’s own understanding of reality does he or she succeed in changing the structures of power. On the other side McClelland (1975) has suggested that in order for people to change the power, they need to gain information about themselves and their environment and be willing to identify and work with others for change.

 

While Whitmore (2000) defines the concept of empowerment clearly, she states that there are some general fundamental assumptions; a) individuals are assumed to understand their own needs better than anyone else and therefore should have the power both to define and act upon them; b) all people possess strengths upon which they can build; c) empowerment is a lifelong endeavor; and d) personal knowledge and experience are valid and useful in coping effectively. In this order Kessey (2005) defines empowerment as a process of change by which individuals or groups, with little or no power, gain the power and ability to make choices that affect their lives.

 

Women’s group, represent a form of involvement in other activities beyond the home that is a radical departure from most current programmes. SHGs programme has effective strategy for poverty alleviation, human development, community development and women empowerment. They offer grassroots participatory implementation to the women at micro level that provide base or opportunities to the women for engaging to the process of empowerment.  Present study explore the changes among the women related to economic, social and other dimension of life after formation of Self-Help Group.

 

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

The objectives of the paper are-

·      To find out the barriers faced by women at the time of formation of group

·      To examine the saving pattern of women after joining the group

·      To know the dependency on moneylender of the women

·      To find out the new economic activity started by women after joining the group 

 

LOCATION AND THE SAMPLE OF STUDY AREA:

The paper based on self-help group women who have been facilitated by Block Development Agency.  Block implements the different policies to the rural people. SHG is one of them. So, kaurihar block is selected. Two areas of Rampur village have taken for the study.  20 women from one area, who are the member of SHG and 20 women from second area who are not the member of SHG has selected for the study. Comparative method is used to compare the members and non-members on different issues. Data collected through interview and observation methods. To collect the data from group members, meetings of the SHG has been joined and collected data from interview of women. On the other side data from non-members has collected by door to door.

 

IMPUGNMENTS IN GROUP FORMATION:

It is reveals from the data that women faced opposition by their family members for joining the self-help group. SHG was the new concept in the rural area and male members of the family did not want to inter their wives in group. They wanted to facilitate from the scheme of SHG but not through their wives. Data reveals that patriarchal values became the big barriers for the women to be the member of SHG. A member said that initially her husband and mother-in law refused to give permission to start a self-help group and were opposed to her seeking membership in the SHG. They objected to the idea that they would be attending monthly meetings at other member’s residence. Thus, women face impugnments by their family members.

 

CHANGE IN PATTERN OF SAVING AMONG THE MEMBERS:

Saving is important for all the members, so women has adopted different pattern of saving which has been learnt from each other. Data highlight that saving starts from the first meeting of the group. Members of the group agreed to save Rs. 50-100 per month. Analysis of field data revealed that there are different methods of saving.. Women saved a portion of the cash which was given to them by their counterparts after the sale of vegetables. The other pattern of saving was found in members of group that they collect coins in the piggy bank (GULLAK) every day after market transaction, and deposit the amount to the SHG. Analysis of the facts reveals that the members of SHG adopted different method of saving in addition to the methods suggested by the facilitator. It indicates the significance of indigenous methods of savings in the proper functioning of SHGs. Such savings increases their confidence and helped in creating a new identity to the women in the family.

 

INDEBTEDNESS AND DEPENDENCY ON MONEYLENDERS:

It is reveals from the data that the problem of indebtedness is increasing in the village. Women who are not member of SHG were facing this problem. There were some reasons to indebtedness like Inability to provide collateral security, Poor credit absorption capacity, inadequate reach of the institutions, and weak community network. The existence of sound community networks in villages is increasingly, being recognized by development experts as one of the most important elements of credit linkage in the rural areas. Participatory community organisations (Self-Help group is extremely effective in reaching credit to the poor and play a critical role in Poverty alleviation.  Data highlights that the dependency on moneylenders is more in non-members rather than members. Women, who are the member of group, take money from the group at 2% interest rate that is very low from the moneylenders in the village. So members of the group are more economic independent rather than non members.

 

INVOLVEMENT IN NEW ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES:

After the joining of SHG women have started new economic activity like buffalo rearing. They convinced their counterparts that they are able to carry out such a business without training as it is a part of domestic chore. Initially, when women joined the group has started papad-chip making as an economic activity. But they were failed to make that products due to lack of training. After that they adopted buffalo rearing business as a economic activity. The shift in the economic decision-making suggests that the group members take a rational and calculated step in the crucial economic matters concerning them. This refers to the growing economic space and empowerment among women facilitated by self-help groups. It also reveals the change in traditional economic structure where women were limited to do household work i.e. unpaid work but after joining the group their participation in economic activities i.e. paid work depicted the change in traditional economic structure. So member women has developed source of income and their income has increased after formation of group while non-member were depend on their family members for credit.

 

CONCLUSION:

There are positive changes of Self-Help Groups have seen in the life of poor women. Women fulfilled their basic needs from the group. They do not have to take credit from the moneylenders. This is the economic changes among the members. Some social changes also observed that their children admitted in private school and get quality of education. Besides this, gender equality among their children in order to take education has been increased in member than non-members. Even members children feel proud of their mother. They ask money from their mother while before formation of SHG they asked money from their father. So this is the large change in economic structure that is possible due the introduction of SHG in the village. On the other side some members learnt sign from their children. It indicates that women become aware about education of their self. This is important dimension of women empowerment. Involvement in economic activity makes them able to take decision on economic issues like how to spend the money, use of loans and purposes of loan etc. These changes make women economic independent and increase respect in the family.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS:

The following suggestions are made for women and effective implementation of Self Help Groups in Allahabad district. The Government should implement SHG schemes effectively and systematically. Government should give the training regarding education, group activities and to start new business.  Government should start awareness prgrammes at village level and encourage the women for participation. Women should keep interest on empowering themselves and prepare themselves to face any problems in their surroundings. Encouragement by the family is the most important factor facilitating entrepreneurship in spite of strong will and firm determination, women entrepreneurs look for support from family members and Government both.

 

REFERENCES:

McClelland, D. C. (1975). ‘Power: The inner experience’, New York: Irvington Press.

Kessey, C. (2005). ‘Empowering Muslim Women through microcredit Scheme: The Case of the Suyani Gonja Muslim Women‟s Group WOPAG, Working Papers, Ghana: Historical and Contemporary Studies, Number 7.

Whitmore, E. (2000). ‘Empowerment and the process of inquiry’, A paper presented at theannual meeting of the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work, Windsor, Ontario.

Mehta Mishra & Singh (2011). ‘Role of Self Help Groups in Socio- Economic Change of Vulnerable Poor of Jammu Region, International Conference on Economics and Finance Research IPEDR vol.4.

Das, S. K. (2012). ‘Best Practices of Self Help Groups and Women Empowerment: A Case of Barak Valley of Assam’, Far East Journal of Psychology and Business Vol. 7 No. 2 May 2012.

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