Self Help Groups and Women Empowerment- A Study in North 24 Pargana District in West Bengal

Abstract

In this paper we have studied the impact of Government sponsored poverty alleviation program – Swarna Jyanti Sahari Rojgar Yojana(SJSRY) on women empowerment in Bongaon Municipality of North 24 Parganas in West Bengal. The Urban Women Self-help Program (UWSP) of SJSRY concentrates on women empowerment in urban areas through SHGs. It has two components namely UWSP (loan and subsidy) and UWSP (Revolving Fund). Our estimates reveal that group participation has increased the knowledge, awareness of women about their rights and their self confidence. This is reflected both in case of UWSP (loan and subsidy) group members popularly known as DWCUA members and UWSP (Revolving Fund) group members popularly known as TCG members’ empowerment level. 95% of DWCUA members are empowered, 58% of TCG members are empowered and only 11% of Non TCG members (non group members or the control group) are empowered in Bongaon Municipality of West Bengal.