Impact of SHGs on social, economic and political women empowerment: a case study of Ghaziabad District, India

In India, the Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are playing a commendable role in poverty alleviation by reaching out to the poor rural women which forms the major percentage of their membership. These groups are determined to eradicate poverty from the country as these are truly active at the grass root level. An effort has been made to survey 388 respondents from four blocks of Ghaziabad district to find the impact of SHGs on the rural women at three unique levels namely social, economical and political. The study at hand reveals that women have become more authoritative socially and cost-effectively yet there is still the scope of upgrading with respect to Political empowerment. The members of SHGs in have become more confident and independent decision makers to a considerable extent.