EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN THROUGH SOCIAL WORKING GROUPS: A CASE STUDY IN BAGALOKTE DISTRICT.”
The article explores the empowerment of women through sthree shakthi approach. In this approach efforts are being made by the governmental organizations with an aim to accumulate both human and material resources and empower rural women. The study was carried out in Bagalkot taluk of Bagalkot district to measure the women empowerment. The data was collected from 100 Sthree Shakti Groups members (SSGs) and 30 non- SSGs members. The findings of the reflects that the Institutional participation was more in case SSG members 80 per cent compared to non-SSG member (17%). Majority of SSG members 70 per cent had regular participation in method demonstration while only 17 per cent of non-SSG members had occasionally participated in krishimela and of them had participated in any other extension activity. It was found that the number of income generating activities taken up by SSG members (five) was higher compared to non-SSG members (three) and the income generated from these activities was also higher compared to non- SSG members. About 51 per cent of SSG members in the study area had high empowerment compared to non-SSG members (20%). Further, there is a scope to increase the number of SSGs in the study area. Since SSGs play a major role in the development of the women, there is a need to encourage more number of SSGs. The study also reveals that performance of NGO promoted SSGs was much better than Govt.promoted SSGs. Hence more number of NGOs must be involved in promoting SSGs covering more of women folk.
Keywords: Women Empowerment, Stree Shakti Groups (SSGs), Income-Generating Activities, Institutional Participation, Extension Participation, Social Empowerment, Economic Empowerment, Capacity Building.
