Role of Shgs in Political Empowerment of Women: A Study in Khordha District of Odisha

Abstract

In the process of development of the countries all over the world, the empowerment of women has become one of the central issues and has involved a complex of the progressive changes at the individual, contextual/collective and relational level. Empowerment of women implies developing them as more aware individuals, who are politically autonomous, economically self-reliant, and are in a position to take decision on matters affecting them That apart, the Self Help Groups approach has enabled the women members to be at a common platform for gaining and sharing their cognition and expertise in managing the affairs in relation to political and fiscal issues and thereby to persuade their co-members for raising their voices in their own groups and also externally. The present study is based on the WSHG members of five blocks of Khordha district in Odisha. The researchers adhered to descriptive research design as the same suited well to the purpose of present study. The present investigation attempted on examining the role of SHGs in political empowerment of their members so as to capacitate them to exercise their voting rights, to possess political aspiration for contesting elections, to have access to political information, to be aware of political issues and political developments, to be motivated towards political participation etc. The findings of the present study revealed that cent per cent WSHG members exercise their voting rights and an overwhelming majority of them possesses political aspiration for contesting elections, and have access to political aspiration and aware of political issues and political development, take part in different groups and involve in election campaign or meetings, participate in Gram Sabha meeting and involve in capacity building. Thus, the role of SHGs in politically empowering women is substantiated.