Complementary Effects of Self-Help Groups in Achieving Gender Mobiliy and Women Empowerment in Rural Areas – A Case Study

The women, particularly in rural areas, have been deprived of quality education, access to information, employment and economic independence, nutrition, sanitation and health services. Since mid-1990s, women have been identified as key agents contributing towards sustainable growth. The women empowerment has become pivotal of all social and economic policy programmes of the government. The strategies of women empowerment therefore, focus on socio-economic restructuring with emphasis on ‘promotion of self-help' among the rural women. Self-Help Groups emerged as genuine platforms for the rural women to participate, explore and have access to all resources and facilities required to achieve empowerment and gender mobility and equality