An analytical study on functioning of self-help groups

Pages: 51-54
Rijul Sihag (Department of Sociology, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana)

Self help groups are small informal association of the poor created at the grass root level for the purpose of enabling members to reap economic benefits out of mutual help and joint responsibility. Self help groups are formed voluntarily by the rural and urban poor to save and contribute to a common fund that can be lent to its members as per requirement and for working together for social and economic uplift of their families and community. The present study therefore focused on evaluating the functional aspects of Self Help Groups. For meeting the objectives primary data were collected through a structured, non disguised questionnaire. A total of 300 respondents from four villages of two districts of Haryana formed the sample size of the study. Chi Square test used to find whether the two attributes are associated or not. The study found that these groups consisted of mostly 15- 20 members, mostly belonging to lower castes and poorer sections are the members of Self Help Groups. Groups resolve conflicts through collective leadership and mutual discussion. Every group has code of conduct for effective administration and management of group. The outcome of the study revealed that monthly meetings were their regular feature and majority of Self Help Groups were using saving for inter-loaning purposes. Self Help Groups act as immediate agents of empowering rural women.