Empowerment, as a social process has challenged the fundamental imbalances of power distribution and relations. It was redistribution of power within and between families, society’s process aiming at social equality which could be achieved through disempowering some structures, systems and institutions. Social empowerment has promoted sustainable rural structure for dissemination of knowledge about health, nutrition, literacy, education, freedom and opportunities for realizing women’s potentialities and adoption of new agricultural practices. The present paper discussed about the profile of the respondents, Participat ion of Women in SHG functions and awareness towards SHGs.

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ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN THROUGH SHG IN KOLLI HILLS
Dr .C.Paramasivan,
Assistant Professor of Commerce,
Periyar EVR College, Tiruchirappalli
Tamilnadu -620023
ABSTRACT
Empowerment, as a social process has challenged the fundamental imbalances of power distribution
and relations. It was redistribution of power within and between families, society’s process aiming at social
equality which could be achieved through disempowering some structures, systems and institutions. Social
empowerment has promoted sustainable rural structure for dissemination of knowledge about health, nutrition,
literacy, education, freedom and opportunities for realizing women’s potentialities and adoption of new
agricultural practices. The present paper discussed about the profile of the respondents, Participation of
Women in SHG functions and awareness towards SHGs
Key words : Self help group, economic empowerment, social empowerment, tribal women, and women
development
Introduction
Empowerment becomes a popular word which
dominates the overall growth and development of any
developing society. Empowerment of women for
social development is a more complex process that it
appeared to be. It is now recognized that
empowerment involves advancement in several
important and related spheres to ensure the overall
well-being of the empowered. The Benefits derived
from the empowerment programmes must not only be
relevant to the needs of the intended beneficiaries,
but efforts must be made to ensure that the target
population is also able to retain the benefits. This is
particularly significant for women.
SHG and Women Empowerment
Improvement in economic status of women enables
women to develop their leadership qualities. ‘Impact
of socio-economic status on the emergence of rural
women leadership’, finds out that socio-economic
status is a significant factor in emergence of rural
women leadership. The study empirically established
the fact that the socio-economic status had a
significant impact on determining the emergence of
rural women as leader Dindigul district of Tamilnadu.
Empowering women is inevitable towards decreasing
incidence of domestic violence. To gain
understanding of the phenomenon of violence of
family members against married women, the findings
have shown that most of the battered women are not
highly educated. Eight per cent of the battered
women have been educated up to middle school only.
A study on the various factors which contributes
to the success of groups listed the crucial role played
by the NGOs, effective leadership, group
cohesiveness, buoyant savings, contribution by the
members, regular meetings, high percentage of
attendance by members in the group meetings, peer
group pressure leading to high repayment rate,
changing attitude of men, healthy competition among
the members, linkage with government programmes
of rural development, formation of cluster
committees, campaigning skills, participation of
groups for common causes, linkage with other
institutions and effective supervision by the NGOs.
Statement of the Problem
Empowerment, as a social process has challenged
the fundamental imbalances of power distribution and
relations. It was redistribution of power within and
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between families, societies process aiming at social
equality which could be achieved through
disempowering some structures, systems and
institutions. Social empowerment has promoted
sustainable rural structure for dissemination of
knowledge about health, nutrition, literacy, education,
freedom and opportunities for realizing women’s
potentialities and adoption of new agricultural
practices. The social empowerment employed
indicators such as gender discrimination, female
infanticide, dowry, marriage, poverty, caste and social
justice to assess the empowerment of women. In any
society, women are the most vulnerable section and
Tribal women can be claimed as one of the most among
this section.
Government policies and schemes have not
uplifted their standard of life and they have become
secondary grade citizens in their own country. Indian
constitution has given special rights and provisions
for the up-liftment of the tribal of India and till date it
is mostly on the paper and very little in practice. If
the rights and opportunities are given as specified by
our policy markers the tribal women will be
empowered in the society enjoying socio-economic
and legal freedom. It is to the weaker section, the
policy makers have to look out for an alternate to build
an economic society which will make our country
strong. The present research study revealed that the
economic empowerment and emancipation of the tribal
women through SHG in Kolli hills, Namakkal district,
Tamilnadu.
Objective of the Study
Major objective of the study is to identify the
respondent’s knowledge and awareness regarding
SHG activities in Kolli hills, Namakkal district of
Tamilnadu .
Research Methodology
The present study confined only to the Kolli
hills, Namakkal district is in Tamilnadu. The research
is descriptive in nature. Both primary and secondary
data were used. Primary data were collected from the
respondents in the study area with the help of
structured interview scheduled. The Secondary data
were collected from various published, unpublished
and official websites. Only 100 respondents were
selected as sample under the convenient sampling
techniques. Interview scheduled were used to collect
the primary data from the respondents. Collected data
were analyzed with the help of appropriate statistical
tools.
Review of Literature
Divvy Ninad Koul and Giresh Mohan (2009) noted
that, the SHGs formed helped the rural women folk
in improving their socio-economic status as well as
status of their awareness and self-/pe0144ndency. It
was more crucial for women of tribal communities
for substance of their family. Arujn.Y.pangannavar
(2008) noted that, self-help groups programme is the
right approach to create self-employment
opportunities so as to supplement the income and
assets of the rural poor. The SHG programme provides
the rural poor women the access to micro – credit. It
encourages rural women entrepreneurship and rural
women empowerment. Ramachandran.T. and
Balakrishnan.S (2008) noted that, SHGs have the
power to create a socio – economic revolution in the
rural areas of our country. SHGs have not only
produced tangible assets and improved living
conditions of the members. Snehalata panda (2007)
noted that, women members have played a key role
in the gram sabha decision making in matters relating
to use of forest, community land, irrigation, marketing
of local products and construction of roads and design
of work for the newly implemented employment
guarantee etc.,. Suneetha. R (2007) said that, the
empowerment of women become necessary as they
are almost fifty percent of the population and are
being discriminated at all fronts. Women play a vital
role in the social and economic transformation of a
country. Kala G.S. (2004) said that, “Economic
empowerment of women through SHGs”, highlights
mahalial thittam which is being implement in erode
district since 01.05.1998 to promote SHG over a
project period of five years in rural areas the SHG
are not only engaged in saving internal lending
activities but also function as important on health and
nutrition .Vijayanthi.K.N. noted that, “Women
empowerment through SHG a participatory approach”
attempts to explain the process of women’s
empowerment and find out the levels of a awareness
creation, decision making self and groups
empowerment among women from SHG formed
under comprehensive community development
programme implemented in five slum areas of
Chennai. Debotosh sinha (2008) said the,
empowerment of women for social development is a
more complex process that it appeared to be. It is now
recognized that empowerment involves advancement
in several important and related spheres to ensure the

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overall well being of the empowered. Sundar raj.D,
Venkata Ravi. R, Hema latha.H.M., (2008) said that,
“Women and empowerment” empowerment of women
means enhancing awareness of individual household
and community level. This helps women to be more
aware of their constitutional, legal rights,
opportunities.
Profile of the Respondent
Profile of the tribal women in Holli kills , is an
essential study which brings the particular relation to
age, education, marital status, type of family and
family size are show in the below table.
Table No.1 Profile of the Tribal Women
Source: Primary data
The respondents belong to the age group of 36-45
years ranged between 50 and 68 with an average of
57.6.The opinion towards profile status perceived by
the primary level of education ranged between 49 and
66 with an average 58.2. It is cleared from the above
table that the opinion towards profile status was
ranged between 49 and 68 among the married
respondents with an average of 57.7 followed by the
opinion towards profile status perceived by the
unmarried respondents was ranged between 50 and
69.0 with an average of 57.8. It could be observed
from the above table that the respondents belongs to
nuclear family have perceived a profile status that
ranged between 49 and 69 with an average of 57.9
and the joint family ranged between 49 and 68 with
an average of 57.8. It could be seen from the above
table that the opinion towards profile status perceived
by below 4 members in their family ranged between
49 and 68 with an average of 57.9.
Participation of Women in SHG Functions
SHGs are very common in now days with in our
environment. So many women are joined and still
continue in self-help group. The SHG are a small
group of individual members who voluntarily come
together and form an association for achieving a
common objective.
Table No.2 Experience in SHG
Source: Primary data
The table shows that the opinion towards socio-
economic status by the respondents having up to 3
years experience in the self help group ranged
between 49 and 68 with an average 58.3. Opinion
towards the socio-economic status perceived by the
respondents are having 3-5 years experience ranged
between 49 and 69 with an average 57.9. Finally the
opinion towards socio-economic status by the
respondents having the experience self help group is
above 5 years that ranged 50 and 62 with an average
56.9.
The hypothesis “experience in self help group and
the opinion towards socio-economic status earned are
associated” holds good. From this it is concluded
that there is a close relationship between the
experience in SHG and the opinion towards socio-
economic status.
Table no. 3 position in group and opinion towards
Socio-economic status
Source: Primary data
The above table shows that the opinion towards
socio-economic status by the respondents belongs to
an ordinary member ranged between 49 and 68 with
an average 58.3. The opinion towards socio-economic
status perceived by the respondents of representative
ranged between 50 and 63 with an average 58.6. On
the other hand, the opinion towards socio-economic
status perceived by the respondents of leader ranged
between 50 and 69 with an average 56.7. Thus the
table reveals that the respondents of representative
have achieved the highest level of socio-economic

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status.
The hypothesis “position in group and the opinion
towards socio-economic status earned are associated”
holds good. From this it is concluded that there is a
close relationship between the position in group and
the opinion towards socio-economic status.
Knowledge and Awareness Regarding SHG
A SHG has been defined as a small and informal
association of poor having preferably similar socio-
economic background and who have come together
to realize some common goals based on the principles
of self help and collective responsibility.
Table no. 4 Level of awareness and opinion towards
socio-economic status
Source: Primary data
It could be observed from the above table that the
level of awareness and opinion towards socio-
economic status by the SHG. Perceiving the
respondents aware the group ranged between 50 and
64 with an average 58.4, followed by the respondents
partly aware the self help group ranged between 49
and 69 with an average 45.0. On the other hand the
respondents of not aware the self help group is ranged
between 49 and 65 with an average of 58.6. Thus the
table reveals that maximum level of the respondents
having aware the self help group activities.
The hypothesis “level of awareness and the opinion
towards socio-economic status are associated” holds
good. From this analysis, it is inferred that there is a
close relationship between the level of awareness and
the opinion towards socio-economic status.
Suggestions
Kolli hills occupies the forth place in the largest
tribal population in Tamilnadu. But due to the
modernization and changing behaviour of the people,
Kolli hills becomes a congested and crowded place
and lost its hilly atmosphere and environment. So that
the government should take necessary steps to protect
the yercaud hills and avoid migration of SHG to the
hills in Kolli hills with the help of active NGOs and
governments. But the number of SHG in Kolli hills is
not sufficient while comparing to Namakkal District.
Hence, the district authorities should concentrate on
increasing the number of SHG in the yercaud hills for
the benefits of the tribal people.
Participation in SHG by tribal people in Kolli hills is
very limited due to the lack of awareness. Therefore the
local authorities, NGOs and banks should take necessary
steps to involve all the tribal women in the SHG.
SHG is one of the innovative concepts which help to
promote the empowerment of the women particularly
the rural and tribal women. Hence, SHG should be
canalized in a proper and systematic way and ensure
that how it will reach to the unreachable people.
Conclusion
Women empowerment through SHG is an essential
study which provides information regarding socio-
economic and political empowerment of the people
particularly rural and unreachable people. Tribal
women empowerment can be achieved with the help
of well structured and formulated SHG. This study
concludes that the empowerment of tribal women in
Kolli hills in Namakkal district is not up to the
satisfactory level. Hence, there is a need of systematic
and innovative approach to reach the SHG to the
unreachable people.
Acknowledgment
The author is greatly acknowledged UGC for
sponsoring under the major research project scheme
titled on “Economic Empowerment of Tribal Women
through SHG in Kollihills, Namakkal District, and
Tamilnadu” for the year 2012-14.
References
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Divy Niand Koul and Giresh Mohan (2009),Women’s Self Help
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Arujn. Y. Pangannavar (2008), Self Help Groups and Poverty,
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Ramachandran .T and Balakrishnan .S (2008) of Self Help Groups
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