“Self–help groups eliminates poverty and empowers women”. Substantiate with suitable answer.
Answer by Student
Self-help groups (SHGs) are groups of poor people, usually women, who pool their savings and lend money to each other for various purposes. SHGs can eliminate poverty and empower women in the following ways:
-
Economic empowerment
: SHGs provide
easy access to credit
to poor women, who otherwise face difficulties in getting loans from formal sources. They can use this credit to start or expand their
income-generating activities
, such as agriculture, animal husbandry, handicrafts or small businesses. This can increase their
income and savings
, reduce their
dependence on money lenders or landlords
, and improve their
standard of living
.
-
Social empowerment
: SHGs create a platform for poor women to come together, share their problems and experiences, and support each other. They can also raise awareness and educate themselves on various issues such as health, education, sanitation, legal rights and government schemes. They can also participate in collective action and advocacy on issues affecting them or their community, such as domestic violence, dowry, child marriage or alcoholism. This can enhance their
confidence, self-esteem and leadership skills
.
-
Political empowerment
: SHGs can enable poor women to have a
voice and representation
in local governance and decision-making bodies, such as panchayats or village councils. They can also influence policies and programmes that affect them or their interests, such as rural development, poverty alleviation or women’s welfare. They can also demand
accountability and transparency
from the government officials and service providers.
-
Skill development
: SHGs can provide skill development and training opportunities to poor women, who may lack formal education or vocational skills. They can learn various skills such as accounting, bookkeeping, marketing, management or production that can help them run their businesses more efficiently and effectively. They can also learn new skills such as tailoring, embroidery, pottery or basket making that can help them diversify their products and increase their income.
- Legal empowerment : SHGs can help poor women to access legal aid and justice, which they may otherwise be denied due to lack of awareness or resources. They can help them to obtain legal documents such as identity cards, ration cards or voter cards that can enable them to avail various benefits and rights. They can also help them to file complaints or cases against any injustice or violence that they may face from their family members or society.
Detailed Answer by Teachoo
Self-help groups (SHGs) are voluntary associations of poor people, usually women, who have a common goal of improving their socio-economic status. SHGs are based on the principles of self-reliance, mutual trust, cooperation and solidarity. SHGs typically consist of 10 to 20 members who save a small amount of money every week or month and create a common fund. This fund is used to give loans to the members for various purposes such as consumption, production or emergency needs. The loans are given at low rates of interest and are repaid in small instalments. SHGs can eliminate poverty and empower women in the following ways:
- Economic empowerment : One of the main objectives of SHGs is to provide easy access to credit to poor women, who otherwise face difficulties in getting loans from formal sources such as banks or cooperatives. These sources often require collateral, documentation or guarantors that poor women do not have. They also charge high rates of interest and impose rigid terms and conditions that poor women cannot afford or comply with. On the other hand, SHGs provide loans to poor women based on their savings, mutual trust and group guarantee. By providing easy access to credit, SHGs enable poor women to start or expand their income-generating activities, such as agriculture, animal husbandry, Handicrafts or small businesses. These activities can increase their income and savings, reduce their dependence on money lenders or landlords, and improve their standard of living.
-
Social empowerment
: Another objective of SHGs is to c
reate a platform for poor women
to come together, share their problems and experiences, and support each other. They can also raise awareness and educate themselves on various issues
such as health, education, sanitation, legal rights, and government schemes. They can also participate in collective action and advocacy on issues affecting them or their community, such as domestic violence, dowry, child marriage, or alcoholism.
This can enhance their confidence, self-esteem, and leadership skills. By creating a platform for poor women, SHGs empower them to take charge of their lives and become active participants in their communities. They can also improve their social status and respect, as they are seen as productive and responsible members of society. They can also develop their social capital and networks, which can provide them with more opportunities and resources.
-
Political empowerment
: A third objective of SHGs is to
enable poor women to have a voice and representation
in local governance and decision-making bodies, such as panchayats or village councils. They can also influence policies and programmes that affect them or their interests, such as rural development, poverty alleviation or women’s welfare. They can also demand accountability and transparency from the government officials and service providers.
By enabling poor women to have a voice and representation, SHGs e mpower them to exercise their democratic rights and duties . They can also ensure that their needs and concerns are addressed and prioritized by the authorities. They can also monitor and evaluate the implementation and impact of various schemes and projects that are meant for their benefit. They can also hold the government accountable for its actions and performance.
-
Skill development
: A fourth objective of SHGs is to
provide skill development and training opportunities
to poor women, who may lack formal education or vocational skills. They can learn various skills such as accounting, bookkeeping, marketing, management or production that can help them run their businesses more efficiently and effectively. They can also learn new skills such as tailoring, embroidery, pottery, or basket making that can help them diversify their products and increase their income.
By providing skill development and training opportunities, SHGs empower poor women to enhance their knowledge and abilities. They can also improve the quality of products and services, which can increase their competitiveness and profitability. They can also increase their employability and income opportunities, which can reduce their poverty and dependence.
-
Legal empowerment
: A fifth objective of SHGs is to help poor women to
access legal aid and justice,
which they may otherwise be denied due to lack of awareness or resources. They can help them to obtain legal documents such as identity cards, ration cards or voter cards that can enable them to avail various benefits and rights. They can also help them to file complaints or cases against any injustice or violence that they may face from their family members or society.
By helping poor women to access legal aid and justice, SHGs empower them to protect their rights and interests. They can also seek redressal and compensation for any harm or loss that they may suffer due to any illegal or unfair action. They can also prevent or resolve any conflicts or disputes that may arise among themselves or with others.
