SHGs are considered as one of the most significant tools to adopt participatory approach for the economic empowerment of women: Vimukti Pothnal

Nov 20, 2017: SHGs are novel and innovative organizational setup in India for the women up-liftment and welfare. Self-Help Group refers to self-governed, peer controlled, informal group of people with same socio-economic background and having a desire to collectively perform common purposes. Having new strategic plan, Vimukti formed the women groups in the targeted villages to fight for their rights. It took long time to convince and to motivate the women to make known their rights. The primary focus is to give awareness on various rights and schemes that are given by the government and how to benefit from these various schemes; by way of awareness, motivation, leadership, training and associating in other social inter-mediation programmes for the benefit of the entire community.

Mr. Daniel Helbert, Ensemble Agissons France inaugurated the SHG groups by lighting the lamp and the SHGs are formed with the collaboration of child right project, France. Mr. Daniel Helbert said, SHG groups are need for women’s empowerment in the present-day world. When the women to become part of SHGs as they can bring the desired change, especially in the making them self-reliant economically. The programme was well arranged by the Vimukti staff and 78 women benefited from this program.

Issues of concern:

Ø To secure them from financial, technical and moral strengths.

Ø To gain economic prosperity through loan/credit.

Ø To gain from collective wisdom in organizing and managing their own finance and distributing the benefits among themselves.

Ø To sensitize women of target area for the need of SHG and its relevance in their empowerment. To create group feeling among women.

Ø To enhance the confidence and capabilities of women.

Ø To develop collective decision making among women.

Ø To motivate women taking up social responsibilities particularly related to women development. It acts as the forum for members to provide space and support to each other.

Ø To stop Domestic violence.

Ø Women’s property and inheritance rights.

Ø Reproductive and sexual health rights of women/ adolescent girls.

Ø To stop human Trafficking, child marriage, child sexual abuse etc.

Ø Equal employment opportunities for women and labour rights.