CONTRIBUTION OF SHGS TOWARDS WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN SELECT DISTRICTS OF BIHAR – A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Abstract

Empowering women is essential for a country's progress, yet poverty still stands as its largest barrier. At the Nairobi International Women's Conference in 1985, the concept of women's empowerment first surfaced as a means of redistributing societal authority and resources in favor of women. Many women in rural India are the major breadwinners and frequently provide for their families on their own, with little or no assistance from their male counterparts. The Indian government has placed a high premium on women's empowerment since the 9th Five-Year Plan in order to improve women's ability to make decisions, as well as their lives and those of their families. The extensive literature review could not reveal any studies to be made yet on women empowerment through self-help group, particularly in select districts of Bihar. So, this research paper aims to study the socio-economic profile of the women entrepreneurs, the reasons for joining of the rural poor women in SHGs and examining the income and expenditure of the rural poor women before and after joining SHGs.