Role of self-help groups on socioeconomic development and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among rural women in Cooch Behar District, India

doi:10.1016/j.regsus.2024.100140

Abstract

Abstract:

This study examines the transformative role of self-help groups (SHGs) in the socioeconomic development of rural women in Cooch Behar District, India, and their contribution toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. In this study, we explored the effect of SHGs on rural women by specifically addressing SDGs, such as no poverty (SDG 1), zero hunger (SDG 2), good health and well-being (SDG 3), quality education (SDG 4), and gender equality (SDG 5). Given this issue, a cross-sectional survey and comparison analyses are needed to assess the socioeconomic development of rural women and their awareness level before and after the participation of rural women in SHGs. The survey conducted as part of this study was divided into three sections, namely, demographic characteristics, socioeconomic development, and awareness level, with each focusing on different aspects. A group of 400 individuals who were part of SHGs completed the questionnaire survey form. The results showed that the participation of rural women in SHGs significantly improved their socioeconomic development and awareness level, as supported by both mean values and t test results. Memberships in SHGs and microcredit programs were the major elements that boosted the socioeconomic development of rural women, which also achieves SDGs 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. This study revealed that participation in SHGs and related financial services significantly aided rural women in economically disadvantaged communities in accumulating savings and initiating entrepreneurial ventures. Moreover, participation in SHGs was instrumental in enhancing the self-confidence, self-efficacy, and overall self-esteem of rural women. Finally, doing so enabled them to move more freely for work and other activities and to make family and common decisions.

Key words: Self-help groups, Rural women, Socioeconomic development, Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), Microcredit, India

Debanjan BASAK, Indrajit Roy CHOWDHURY. Role of self-help groups on socioeconomic development and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among rural women in Cooch Behar District, India[J]. Regional Sustainability, 2024, 5(2): 100140.

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References 59

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Sociodemographic characteristic	Category	Frequency	Percentage (%)
Age (years old)	<30	47	11.75
	30-39	132	33.00
	40-49	135	33.75
	50-59	78	19.50
	>60	8	2.00
Marital status	Single	95	23.75
	Married	233	58.25
	Widow	43	10.75
	Divorce	29	7.25
Religion	Hindu	297	74.25
Religion	Muslim	103	25.75
Caste	Scheduled Caste	251	62.75
	Scheduled Tribe	0	0.00
	General	149	37.25
Level of education	Illiterate	97	24.25
Level of education	Literate	303	75.75
Family size (persons)	<3	126	31.50
	4-6	197	49.25
	>6	77	19.25
Size of land holding (hm²)	<0.80	117	29.25
	0.80-1.62	247	61.75
	>1.62	36	9.00
Occupation	Labour	87	21.75
	Agriculture	173	43.25
	Business	91	22.75
	Other	49	12.25
Number of years of participation in SHGs (a)	<5	97	24.25
	5-10	189	47.25
	>10	114	28.50
Size of SHGs (persons)	<15	116	29.00
	15-20	202	50.50
	>20	82	20.50
Type of income-generating activities conducted by SHGs	Food processing	97	24.25
	Handicraft	167	41.75
	Nursery	89	22.25
	Animal rearing	47	11.75

Statement	Before the participation of rural women in SHGs		After the participation of rural women in SHGs		t value
Statement	Mean	Standard deviation	Mean	Standard deviation	t value
Rural women’s freedom of mobility	3.90	1.033	4.10	1.070	4.605^*
Rural women’s community recognition	3.90	1.210	3.99	1.136	2.100^*
Rural women’s family recognition	2.76	1.519	3.39	1.394	10.325^*
Rural women’s literacy levels	2.78	1.454	3.11	1.419	5.807^*
Rural women’s general awareness	3.19	1.193	3.78	1.291	9.653^*
Rural women’s work skills	2.67	1.281	3.17	1.240	8.012^*
Rural women’s individual income	4.00	1.126	4.09	1.037	2.131^*
Rural women’s family income	4.07	0.803	4.17	0.795	2.468^*
Rural women’s interaction skills	4.04	0.889	4.25	0.774	5.745^*
Rural women’s participation in developmental programs	3.90	1.070	4.10	1.033	4.605^*
Rural women’s involvement in decision making	3.79	1.210	3.99	1.136	2.100^*

Statement		Before the participation of rural women in SHGs		After the participation of rural women in SHGs		t value
Statement		Mean	Standard deviation	Mean	Standard deviation	t value
Social aspect	Child labor awareness	2.76	1.516	3.39	1.394	7.946^*
	Education on the issue of child marriage	2.89	1.454	3.11	1.419	5.807^*
	Increased awareness of domestic violence	3.19	1.291	3.78	1.193	9.653^*
	Understanding the social inequalities that exist	3.41	0.500	4.52	0.516	12.802^*
	Status in family	3.70	0.715	4.02	0.893	8.519^*
	Status in society	3.90	0.530	4.49	0.861	12.274^*
	Making-decisions as a family member	4.00	0.524	4.47	0.706	8.334^*
Health aspect	Knowledge regarding sanitary practices	2.14	0.495	3.70	1.135	6.951^*
	Awareness of the importance of personal hygiene	2.96	0.500	4.52	0.734	9.945^*
	Raising consciousness on the Samaj Sathi insurance scheme	2.60	0.390	4.89	1.137	11.123^*
	Adoption of small family norms	4.07	0.803	4.17	0.795	2.468^*
Economic aspect	Controlling resources	4.04	0.773	4.25	0.889	4.261^*
	Creditworthiness	3.98	0.907	4.27	0.858	4.768^*
	Liberation from lenders	5.74	1.504	7.36	1.585	16.649^*
	Banking habits	3.88	1.097	3.92	1.102	2.809^*
	Opportunities for self-employment	3.77	0.814	3.94	0.946	3.124^*
	Capacity for communication	3.90	0.815	4.10	0.984	3.363^*
	Knowledge of entrepreneurship	2.67	1.240	3.17	1.281	8.012^*
Political aspect	Information about government initiatives	3.98	1.562	4.35	1.868	4.489^*
	Education about the rights of women	4.55	1.598	4.68	1.584	2.111^*
	Education on women’s equal ownership of property	4.91	1.497	5.57	1.618	5.721^*
	Involvement in development initiatives	6.99	1.864	7.57	1.780	7.195^*