Self-help groups (SHGs) Empowering Communities Strengthening India

Abstract

SHG is usually a community group of 10-12 women from similar socioeconomic background. They form these alliances to pool their financial resources to undertake joint economic activities or to lend money at reasonable interest rates to members to start small businesses. The core of this group involves pooling of resources to enable financial stability and self-employment for women. It is a voluntary association of persons. It also helps people to enhance their skills through training and empower themselves through collective decision making. These groups mainly focus on empowering the marginalized sections of the society, especially women.