Profile characteristics of women SHG members through TNCDW in Cuddalore district

Abstract

The concept of women's empowerment includes initiatives aimed at elevating the independence and self-determination of women and communities, ensuring equitable access to opportunities, and recognizing their rights. This study investigates the profile characteristics of women involved in Self Help Groups (SHGs) in rural India, particularly within the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu. SHGs play a significant role in reshaping communities and advancing gender equality by providing a platform for networking, addressing shared challenges, pooling savings, and championing education for girls. The study adopts an ex-post-facto research design, with data collected from 120 SHG members through structured interviews and analyzed using statistical tools like mean, standard deviation, frequency, percentage, and ranking. Results showed that a majority of respondents belong to the middle age category and possess middle school education. Most participants engage in subsidiary occupations alongside their SHG activities, contributing to medium income levels. Social participation, mass media exposure and information sharing behaviour were predominantly at medium levels among respondents. The participation in SHG activities under the Mahalir Thittam initiative appears to have fostered self-confidence, achievement motivation and leadership abilities among the members. The findings highlight the crucial role of SHGs in empowering women and improving their socio-economic status within rural communities.