Performance evaluation of women SHGs in Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Persistent poverty remains a major challenge in India, with women constituting a significant part of the rural workforce. Self-Help Groups (SHGs), particularly under the microfinance model, have emerged as a key strategy for women’s socio-economic empowerment. This study evaluated the performance of women SHGs in Andhra Pradesh, focusing on group maintenance, entrepreneurship development, and linkage and social development activities. The research employed an ex-post facto design and purposively selected Kurnool and Anantapur districts of the Rayalaseema region, covering 120 SHGs and 360 women respondents. Data were collected through a pre-tested structured interview schedule during 2024-25. Results revealed that 67.5% of SHG women exhibited high performance in group maintenance, 53.88% demonstrated medium performance in entrepreneurship development, and 92.5% recorded high performance in linkage and social development activities. Overall, 63.33% of SHGs achieved high performance, influenced mainly by strong group maintenance and social linkage activities, though entrepreneurship performance was moderate. The findings underscore SHGs’ pivotal role in improving rural women’s livelihoods and fostering community development, while highlighting the need for targeted interventions to enhance entrepreneurship capacities.