WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND ERADICATION OF POVERTY THROUGH SELF HELP GROUPS
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND ERADICATION OF POVERTY THROUGH SELF HELP GROUPS
BY
Dr.P.PACKIRISAMY Associate Professor, Department of Corporate Secretaryship,
SIVET College, Chennai-600073.
INTRODUCTION:
Empowering women is empowering the nation. Women constitute nearly 50% of the total human resources in our country. But they are economically and socially backward. To overcome this disparity, WSHGs play an attractive role in their development. In 2009-10, the Govt. of India has planned to enroll at least 50% of Rural Women in the country as members of SHGs over the next 5 years and link them to various banks. SHG provides community platforms to women from which they become active in village affairs. Women in general are the most disadvantaged people in Indian society, though their status varies significantly according to their social and ethnic backgrounds.
The empowerment of women through SHGs has been initiated in Tamilnadu as early as in 1998 in Dharmapuri District. The success of this had led to out come of Mahalir Thittam (Plan for Women) was launched from 1997-98. In 1992, NABARD (National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development) conducted a pilot project, as a partnership model between SHGs, BANKS, and NGOs and found that it was more successful and effective.
Self Help Groups:
SHG is “a voluntary association of people formed to attain certain collective goals both economic and social. Each group consists of 15 to 20 members mostly female groups”. Eradication of poverty is the prime aim of promoting SHGs which empowers the women in self-reliant, decision making process, leadership and standard of living.
Objectives of the study:
To study the method of functioning various WSHGs in Kanchipuram Districts.
To evaluate the overall performance of MFIs,NGOsand Banks in promoting SHGs
To identify the problems in SHGs and suggestions to overcome them
To measure and evaluate the Empowerment of SHG Members
Methodology:
The study has been done through the primary data collected from selected WSHGs, mostly covered under Bank→NGOs →SHGs Linkage models in Kanchipuram District and the secondary data collected from NABARD and RBI Reports and Tamil Nadu Corporation for Women Development. The Simple Random sampling Method is adopted.
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT:
Women empowerment takes place in the fields of Economics, Education, Social, Cultural, Psychology and Politics. It represents Economic Independence, Self-reliant, Self-confidence, Leadership, Respect, Recognition, Political, Social and legal awareness. SHG promotes thrift,
savings, entrepreneurship skills besides changing the social attitude and status of women in society. Micro finance activities are economic activities in developing empowerment of women. SHGs are not only a micro-credit groups but also a social security groups. The United Nations’ third Millennium Goal is, to promote Gender Equality and Women Empowerment.
WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS:
SHGs help the rural women to enter into farm, non-farm and entrepreneurial activities. Making Handicrafts, Bags, candle, leaf plates, cattle rearing, sale of food products, flowers, fruits, vegetables and agricultural activities are various income generating activities for the members. It leads them to be self – reliant and economic independence. These enterprising activities make them to repay the loans, saving in the bank and tremendous changes in their standard of living. SHGs provide them BANKING ACCESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
Micro Finance Leads to Households’ Income
It is understood that the households’ income of SHG members are higher than the non members’ household income. The following comparison among three South Asian Countries depicts the income growth level of SHG members and non members.
Table: 1. Country wise comparison on SHG Members Household Income
Country
MFI-Borrower Households
Income Increase in %
Non-Borrowers income
Increase in %
India
46%
24%
Sri Lanka
15.6%
9%
Bangladesh
29.3%
22%
Source: Micro Finance Book review – Pondicherry University
In Bangladesh, the MFI borrower households’ income is higher than Sri Lanka. Because the Grameen Bank Model which was initiated by the father of Micro- Credit Dr.Mohamed Yunus, a Noble Price Winner for Peace. Indian households’ income increases at higher rate when compared to all other countries because of the largest net work of NABARD and its Agencies.
SHGs AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
SHGs have brought about several changes in the society over the years. Some of them are listed below:
SHG has improved the confidence and communication skills among its members.
Awareness about various Government welfare schemes and participation of poor women in those schemes have increased.
The economic status of SHG women has improved as they have taken up various economic activities.
SHG women have come together breaking the caste and communal barriers.
Higher level of participation of women in Grama sabha and Panchayat Raj Institutions.
More than 6,800 SHG members have won the Local body elections held in 2006.
Easy access to bank loans since the credibility of the SHGs have increased from the point of
view of the bankers.
Problems relating to lending have been solved to a greater extent.
It helps better nutrition and health.
Table: 2.SHGs AND BANK FINANCE
Year
No. of SHGs financed by Banks in Lakhs
Cumulative No.of SHGs financed in Lakhs
2003-04
3.62
10.79
2004-05
5.39
16.18
2005-06
6.20
22.38
2006-07
6.87
29.25
2007-08
12.39
34.00
Report is based on NABARD.
NABARD had covered more than 5.80 crores poor households and making itself as the largest Micro Finance Programmes in the world. The World Bank estimates that the Indian Micro Finance activity currently reaches only 4% of the poor. According to the World Bank Report one-third of worlds poorest are in India. The economic growth alone will banish the intensity of poverty.
Table:3. Distribution of Micro Credit to Members through various Models.
Model
Agency
% of Total Members
1.
Grameen Bank
44.9%
2.
Individual Banking
2.3%
3.
Mixed Model (MFIs and Grameen,SHGs Model)
6.3%
4.
SHGs
46.5%
Rate of Interest:
There is larger criticism among members about the exorbitant interest rate charged by some of the MFIs. The present interest rate is stipulated by NABARD. However freedom is given to them to fix their own rate of interest based on their services.
Table.4 SHGs and Interest Rates
Description
Banks
NGOs
MFIs
Average Interest Rate on lending %
8.3%
10.6%
19.1%
Average Interest Rate on borrowing %
5.3%
6.3%
6.6%
Operation Cost on % of Loan
3.9%
2.5%
9.6%
(Source: rbi.org.in)
The exorbitant interest rates charged by the MFIs are really a grieve concern for the WSHGs.
Uniform Rate of Interest will benefit the SHGs in a greater level.
MEASUREMENT OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT:
There are no any concrete methods to measure the women empowerment, but we can measure them by the following indicators:
(i) Economic Empowerment: The income of the members before and after joining the SHGs and possession of various luxurious as well as essential goods. eg. Refrigerator, washing machine.etc.
(ii) Family Empowerment: The women should play a vital role in decision making process in the family, freedom to spend earnings for the family and self respect with in the family.
(iii) Socio – Psychological Empowerment: Ability to face and solve any problems, power of decision making, leadership, enhanced knowledge and the courage to voice against injustice
(iv) Political and Legal Empowerment: Participation in political process, removal of legal discrimination against women. Are the few indicators for measurement of women empowerment.
STATUS OF SHGs IN TAMIL NADU (AS ON 31-03-2010)
Total No. of SHGs 4,41,311
Total No. of SHGs women members 69.91 Lakhs
Total No. of Rural SHGs 3,02,092
Total No. of Rural SHG members 48,33,472
Total No. of Urban SHGs 21,57,894
Total Savings Rs.2,568 Crores
Total No. of SHGs Credit linked 4,02,046
Total No. of SHGs 4.69 lakhs as on 30-10-2010 with 70 lakhs members.
99% of SHGs Bank Loans are promptly repaid by the groups.
FINDINGS OF THE STUDY:
Generally SHGs making savings between Rs.40,000 to Rs.1,20,000. per year
The average internal finance of each group is Rs.80,000 per year
The WSHGs are comparatively more efficient and effective in functioning
The recovery rate of WSHGs is 99%
72% of SHGs are funded by bank linkage
Interest rate by MFIs are higher than the bank lending rates
MF Credit at present available only Rs.300-400 crores but Rs.2000 crores of equity is needed for Micro Finance Market.
NGOs play a vital role in promoting SHG in India
Kanchipuram district stands FIRST in promoting large no.of SHGs 24,000 with 3,72,339 women members
Indian Banks stand FIRST in promoting SHGs in Tamil Nadu and awarded the BEST PERFORMING BANK.
Tamil Nadu Women Development Corporation has promoted 46.5% of WSHGs in Tamil Nadu under Mahalir thittam with the help of NGOs
As on 31.03.2010, 469 NGOs have been affiliated with TNCDW.
The SBI stands FIRST in India, promoting 7,68,000 SHGs with credit link of Rs.24.2(billion)
Indian Bank stands SECOND in India, promoting 93,000 SHGs with credit link of Rs.575 billion
IOB comes in THIRD place with nearly 93,000 SHGs with credit link of Rs.549 billion as on 31-3-2007.
CONCLUSION:
In a country like India, still 60% of people do not have bank accessibility and still 56% of the people borrow from the local informal money lenders. Eradication of poverty can be done only by providing jobs to rural unemployed. Empowerment of women is a collective activity by the Govt. MFIs, NGOs and Banks. Providing micro-credit, skills training and entrepreneurship ability are essential for women empowerment. According to Bonaparte Napoleon – the French Emperor rightly quoted that, “Give me good mothers, I give you good Nation” – Women Empowerment alone will bring a developed India.
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Women for Sobriety
While Women For Sobriety has some factors in common with the more well-known 12-Step Programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, this program also has some very important differences. Women For Sobriety is a fine program for any woman who is struggling with alcohol or drug dependencies or other related problems.
The main focus of Women For Sobriety is called the “New Life” program. This includes thirteen concepts which are absolutely essential for women who are dealing with a difficult problem. These concepts are primarily focused on the woman’s need to gain self-acceptance, self-esteem, and self-empowerment.
While concepts such as “the past is over,” and “I am in charge of my own life,” may seem like little more than basic common sense to most people, for women who have battled alcoholism, drug addiction, or other life-encompassing problems, they are facts of life which must be newly learned. Women For Sobriety teaches women that they are not helpless, that they do not need to be victimized, and that they are indeed strong, competent human beings!
In addition to the relevance of these concepts, the way that they are presented is equally important. Unlike the more widely-known programs, which grant a most significant part of a person’s ability to recover or “heal,” Women For Sobriety’s New Life program urges women to take on that role themselves. Although other program members are there for each other, the theme is that each person’s ability to “heal” and recover is within herself, rather than having the program, group, or individuals become yet a different dependency. As many people who leave their drug or alcohol dependencies behind, but only to substitute dependency on their program, it is easy to see why Women For Sobriety has a much better approach.
In helping women to gain a sense of self-empowerment, Women For Sobriety presents the opportunity for independence which many women have never had before. As most alcoholics and addicts find it very easy to trade one dependency for another, look to other people to provide such a degree of input and support in their everyday lives that they are never in the position of learning how to stand on their own, and often become quite adept at using their pasts as an excuse for the present day, Women For Sobriety aims to help women deter from such negative patterns and achieve true independence.
For many women, hearing that she is in charge of herself and in charge of her own life is a brand-new concept! To hear that one no longer needs to rehash and rehash the past, nor to lean on other people to get through each point in everyday life, can be a very freeing and exhilirating experience! In Women For Sobriety, a person will learn that she can tackle and beat her addictions and other related problems– and that it is within her own ability to do so. In Women For Sobriety, a person will learn that when she has done so, the question she should then ask herself is “This is your life: what do you want to do with it?”
What Makes a Powerful Woman?
Title: What Makes A Powerful Woman?
An Exploration of Eight Qualities Underneath the Power
Author: Jai Johnson
Word Count: 1,565
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What Makes A Powerful Woman?
An Exploration of Eight Qualities Underneath the Power
When you hear the words “powerful woman”, what picture comes to mind? Do you envision a woman who you feel has attained success, or a woman who has taken on a battle of some sort and has won? Is it a thought of a woman you feel is in a powerful job position? Do you picture a woman who appears extremely popular?
While all of these things can invoke images of power, what you’re seeing is just the end result. You’re not seeing the eight simple underlying traits these women possess to get them to the point of being deemed powerful. There are many women in the world who have not lassoed what you and I see as success, or who haven’t had the opportunity to take on a big battle in their lives. Still, they are powerful. There are numbers of women out there in normal, supportive day-to-day jobs. They’re powerful, too. There are millions of women who don’t exude popularity. Yet those women can be just as powerful as the ones you picture when you hear the words, powerful woman.
Powerful women have eight individual qualities that serve as the central core of their lives. They live and breathe the first seven of these, which keep them true to themselves and help them achieve the eighth trait easily. When a woman possesses and practices these qualities on a daily basis, she becomes the essence of a true, powerful woman, no matter what her worldly picture may look like to others.
1) Gives It All She’s Got – a powerful woman will give all she can give to any task at hand, without question, and without complaint. Example: A woman salesclerk who normally spends her time at work out on the floor interacting with store customers is asked by her manager to do a task she doesn’t like. When she goes into work one day, she’s asked to organize a stock room, which entails moving boxes, unpacking those boxes, and placing inventory in an organized fashion on shelves. Even though it’s a job she doesn’t like, she takes on the task without complaint to her manager or others, and she diligently follows through to completion on the project.
2) Never Gives Up – a powerful woman never gives up. Period. She goes after what she wants in life and she doesn’t quit, no matter how difficult the going may get. Example: A woman decided at a young age she wanted to be an artist, and make her living from her creative talents. Many obstacles are placed in her way. She has had to take other jobs just to keep food on the table. Sometimes she’s so tired she just wants to give up…but she doesn’t. She keeps going, day after day, month after month, and year after year. She doesn’t allow negative influences. She doesn’t listen to those who put her dream down. She doesn’t allow others to pull her away from her ultimate goal. And she doesn’t know the meaning of the words “I can’t”. Plain and simple…she never gives up on her true dream. Ever.
3) Speaks Her Mind – a powerful woman is not afraid to speak her mind. Example: A woman is involved in a group discussion about how to fix a problem. Others who are more qualified are very generous with their suggestions, however this woman feels she has a good idea about how to fix the problem much more quickly and easily. Though it’s hard for her to get a word in, and even though she’s in a room with seasoned professionals, she opens her mouth and shares her idea with a conviction and belief that it’s the right action to take. She doesn’t worry about what others will think about what she says. She isn’t concerned that some may criticize her for her thoughts. She isn’t attached to their acceptance of her idea. She speaks her mind with a calm confidence only a powerful woman could exude.
4) Respects Herself and Others – a powerful woman is respectful in all situations. Example: A married woman is asked by her co-workers to go to a bar after work. She doesn’t feel comfortable in a bar environment, plus she knows her husband would be unhappy, as he looks forward to their evenings at home. Rather than going along with the crowd for fear she might not be accepted, she respects herself by declining the invitation. She does so without fear – as a powerful woman always knows that acceptance must come from within first and foremost. In addition, she respects the choices of the others who go to the bar, despite the fact she might not agree or approve. And she doesn’t treat them any differently because of their choices.
5) Stands Up For What She Believes In – a powerful woman is confident in supporting her beliefs, no matter what the consequences. Example: A woman believes that all people – regardless of race, color, creed, sex, etc – should be treated equally. In a company board meeting, a discussion ensues about hiring a particular applicant who happens to be a mother of two versus hiring another applicant who happens to have no children. Despite the fact the mother of two is clearly more qualified, several of the board members express a desire to hire the other applicant due to her childless lifestyle. The powerful woman expresses what she believes – which is that the applicant with children is clearly more qualified and should be the one hired for the position. The powerful woman states it is unfair to discriminate against the mother of two in this manner. When the others try to sway her belief on the issue, she doesn’t back down. She clearly states her belief again, and refuses to adopt a way of thinking and behavior which isn’t in line with her core beliefs.
6) Inspires Herself And Others – the ability to inspire naturally resides within the powerful woman. Example: A woman has been criticized recently, and the critical statements are running through her mind. Rather than accept the critical comments from others, she speaks to herself about her gifts, talents and positive traits. Just as she would tell someone else who came to her with the same issues, she tells herself to hang in there, that things will get better. She doesn’t allow the negativity directed toward her by others to consume her life or get her down. Instead she responds to the negativity by focusing on the positives and by offering herself hope for the future.
7) Shares Her Power Willingly – a powerful woman willingly shares her gifts, talents, skills and knowledge with others. Example: A woman has developed a unique recipe that proves to be a hit at many of the social events she attends. She enjoys the compliments, and loves the fact others look forward to the dish she’s serving. It makes her feel good. She basks in the glow of her success in pleasing others with her recipe. At her next event, she is asked for the ingredients that make this recipe so special. The woman has a choice to share, or to keep the secret recipe to herself, so that her dish will continue to be the envy of others. The powerful woman will share, and do so gladly, because she is confident of the gifts within her that give her the ability to constantly create new dishes others will enjoy.
Makes A Difference In The Lives Of Others – this quality is at the core of every powerful woman’s being. It is something that, deep down, every woman wants to achieve on a daily basis. It is a quality created by behaving according to the previous traits, for when a woman lives by the first seven, she will easily and effortlessly become the woman who makes a difference in the lives of others. Example: A businesswoman comes across a homeless girl on the street. The girl’s appearance is disheveled. Her clothes are torn; her hair is a knotted mess. The girl is smoking a cigarette, and looking down at the ground. The businesswoman glances at her watch, and realizes she’s late for work. Yet she turns and walks up to the girl. She hands the girl to cover some of her needs. She offers inspiration and words of encouragement when she tells the girl that she doesn’t have to accept this life she has somehow ended up in the middle of, and how, with a little effort, she can become anyone she wants to be, and do anything she wants to do.
One year later, the businesswoman receives a thank-you card in the mail. In the card is a bill and a business card from the owner of a new boutique…coincidentally located on the same corner where she’d stopped and spoken to the destitute girl. The businesswoman smiles inside, knowing she’d taken the right actions to make a difference in the life of someone else. And that, for a powerful woman, is what makes the journey worthwhile.
As you can see, it doesn’t matter what a woman’s role in life is – that’s just the outer picture the world sees. It’s the possession and application on a daily basis of these qualities and traits that make a woman – no matter who she is or what she does for a living – truly one powerful chick. J
Jai Johnson is the artist and designer behind 1PowerfulChick.Com, a boutique offering a line of gifts designed to celebrate the extraordinary power of women who make a difference through all walks of life.
Visit the website at: http://www.1PowerfulChick.Com
The Birth Control And Women’s Empowerment
Long before the advent of modern science and technology, man had been devising ways to prevent pregnancy with the use of crude concoctions such as crocodile or elephant dung mixed with honey as well as a potion of dried beaver testicles mixed with alcohol.
Medical innovations, however, have provided us with effective birth control methods in the form of pills, implants, and shots just to name a few. These methods have empowered women the world over in terms of the range of options they have for birth control.
Today’s women consider lifestyle and health issues as essential factors in determining which birth control options they will choose. Besides, pills may not be effective for everyone especially if you’ve forgotten to take it too many times. Some women may opt for hormones while others prefer implants or patches. There are those who would consider permanent birth control procedures while others prefer reversible methods. What is good for one woman may not be effective for another.
To those who are scouting for birth control methods that are virtually hassle-free for months, years, or even a lifetime, advances in birth control technology have made it possible for women to choose which one would suit their medical science and medication offer women new methods and more types of contraception to choose from.
Reversible birth control means it can be stopped any time without long-term effects on a woman’s fertility or ability to become pregnant. Since a woman’s child-bearing goals and preferences change throughout her life, this option can protect a woman from pregnancy without taking away the opportunity to have children in the future. The three types of reversible birth control methods are hormonal, non-hormonal, and fertility awareness methods.
Hormonal contraceptives work by suppressing two key hormones, the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), that trigger ovulation. FSH is responsible for coaxing the egg to maturity while LH triggers the release of the egg at mid-cycle. Patches, vaginal rings, implants and pills are examples of hormonal birth control.
Non-hormonal birth control methods includes diaphragm, male and female condoms, intrauterine device (IUD), cervical cap, vaginal sponge, spermicides.
Fertility awareness method is a collection of practices that help a woman know which days of the month she is most likely to get pregnant by using the body’s natural and normal functions. Through observation and charting physical changes in a woman’s body, she can learn when her ovulation is coming. She can then use this information to avoid or encourage pregnancy.
With reversible birth control, fertility returns in one to two months. And though fertility may return, pregnancy might not happen right away. It takes time before one can become pregnant again.
Permanent birth control methods are for couples who may decide not to have anymore children due to a variety of reasons including health and financial concerns.
Tubal ligation or occlusion is a permanent birth control method for women that involves the closure of the the tubes between the ovaries and the uterus. The procedure prevents sperm cells from reaching the egg cells. Vasectomy, on the other hand, is a male permanent birth control procedure in which the doctor ties or seals the tubes in the scrotum that carry sperm to the penis. Vasectomy lets a man enjoy sex without causing pregnancy.
Indeed, modern medicine and technology has enabled women to become more empowered in terms of their child-bearing and family planning decisions. With the right information and birth control products, women now have a chance to lead a better life, and so do their children should they decide to get pregnant and raise a family.
Building Leadership Skills – Business Leadership Coaching
Leadership in business organizations plays quite an important role. Without effective leadership, it can prove to be extremely difficult for a company to achieve its goals and objectives. This makes building leadership skills in business organizations quite important. And in most companies today, business leadership coaching and training are quite common.
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There are many ways of building leadership skills among business leaders and potential business leaders. A leadership training and development program is just one of those many ways. Companies can also resort to business leadership coaching as a follow up to training and development programs to help build leadership skills among leaders and employees.
There are several kinds of leadership skills that need to be developed. However, among all these, the leadership style and effective communication prove to be of the highest importance. The style of leadership that goes around the company can determine the level of motivation that employees have in achieving their career goals, as well as the company goals.
On the other hand, effective communication helps facilitate successful clear transmission and exchange of information within or among employee and leaders. Without effective communication skills, leaders will find it difficult to make employees understand what the goals are and how they can get there. What is important is that business organizations should understand that there are different kinds of leadership skills and it can be quite an advantage to let leaders understand more about these concepts.
The next time you think of building leadership skills in the office, keep in mind that you will not be able to improve any skill unless you check which areas indeed need improvement. You also need to determine the willingness that the participants have toward learning something new, and applying them into their daily roles and responsibilities. At the end of the day, it would be the effective leaders that have effective leadership skills that will motivate teams to give their best.
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