This document summarizes a research paper on women empowerment through investment groups. The key points are: 1. Investment groups allow women to pool resources and start businesses like dairy, clothing, and agriculture. This empowers women economically and improves family incomes. 2. A survey of 10 investment groups in Buldana and Akola districts of Maharashtra found that the groups increased literacy, education levels, and monthly incomes for members. Some members earn over Rs. 5000 per month. 3. In addition to economic empowerment, investment groups provide social and political empowerment. Some members have been elected to local government positions, demonstrating greater leadership skills and participation in politics.

1. International Indexed & Referred Research Journal, April, 2012. ISSN- 0974-2832, RNI-RAJBIL 2009/29954; VoL. IV * ISSUE-39
Research Paper
Women Empowerment
By Investment Groups
* Nitin Laxman Nayse April , 2012
* Dr. Babasaheb Marathwada, University, Aurangabad.
Introduction: velop the women as well as their families , Their eco-
Dr. Mohammad Yunus, the well-known pro- nomical condition is also improved.
moters of Rural Bank in BanglaDesh and the Nobel A survey of some selected groups from
peace prize winner, has firstly formed self-help group Buldana And Akola districts is conducted and the data
he has utilized his knowledge to eradicate economical is collected through actual visits, questionnaires maga-
problems of poor families He successfully conducted zines, newspapers are. Their working area is different
the experiment of Rural Bank In BanglaDesh in 1976 and their work is praiseworthy Investments groups in
The concept has been accepted throughout the world their districts are related to goat forming dairy flower-
in the last 35 years This rural bank is the arraign of ing plants Bangles, stationary clothing business, cloud,
Microcredit, which has altered social deposit for ma- irrigation, tractor work brick making, sawing, ready,
terial deposit Delicate economical social groups re- mode garments etc Ten selected groups form Buldana
quires loan instead. This concept leads to self-help and Akola districts as well as some other groups are
group simplified form of this group is called investment also taken into consideration under the survey to find
group in Maharashtra, Near about 60% to 70% Families whether women are really empowered.
in India demand loans. National Bank for Agriculture 1. Benefit of Education:- Girls have equaled boys in
and Rural Development took initiatives to provide loans terms of education but in majority of communities, they
in India from 10th Dec, 2008 women’s self help groups are not allowed to leave home are take any job Due to
have been provided low interest loans by women’s investment groups, these women get united and use
Economical Development Corporation and it was inau- their education to start a business. They came increase
gurated by Mahamahim Shrimati Pratibha Devisingh their family income 100 members from the 10 invest-
Patil. ments groups are surveyed under their education and
In the past women were restricted to Home the data is collected is as follows.
and hearth only but tremendous change has come over Investments groups 10
now and today women have equaled men in every field Member 100
Also Investment Groups have contributed to their Half Educated 20
economical, social, political and educational empower- Educated up to 10th 70
ment. Graduate 10
A group of men or women having regular little Post Graduate 00
investment and mutual responsibility and which is Half educated members include those who can’t read
formed for individual’s development is called as In- and write
vestment group.
Objectives:-
1.Whether socially gets the benefit of Education.
2.Whether family income a increased .
3.Whether literacy is increased.
4.Increase in different Industries and Business.
5.Women’s contribution in politics.
6.Increase in Leadership quality of women.
7.Women’s awareness of social work.
8.Women’s mutual co-operation to each other.
In Maharashtra both men and women have
investment groups but the number of women’s groups
is more than that of men women are conduction their 2. Increase In Income:-
investment groups completely. It has helped to de- Women have established different business
14

2. International Indexed & Referred Research Journal, April, 2012. ISSN- 0974-2832, RNI-RAJBIL 2009/29954; VoL. IV * ISSUE-39
through investment groups and supported their fami- vestment groups and they are repressing their thoughts,
lies financially. freely, They are fighting against corrupt positions. They
Investment Groups 10 are elected at Grampanchayat, Panchayat samiti Nagar
Members 100 Parishad metropolitan cities zilla Parishad etc and they
Members Getting 75 are putting their opinions firmly and confidently. They
Rs. 2000 per month are solving social problems. According to some invest-
Members Getting 24 ment groups. They have controlled concept politicians
Rs. 5000 per mouth and authorities. Today in Buldana district there are 10
Members Getting more 01 women out of 13 elected has chairperson at Panchayat
than Rs. 5000 samiti.
6. Development of Leadership quality:-
Women’s investment groups have been lead-
ing a specific group since last 35 years. Their group
discussions and impression of opinions helped them
to develop leadership qualities, some women from these
groups put their opinions firmly and intensely Thus
their leadership quality is developed due to their in-
vestment groups.
7.Social Awareness:- In investment groups women
discuss various issues along with their own business
It also includes social and other problems in the village
women’s investment groups are taking steps to solve
social problems in the village some investment groups
made their villages free from alcohol to minimize domes-
members getting Rs. 2000
tics crisis. In Solapur a female fetus was thrown on
per month 75%
garbage by women and it was brought home by women
members getting Rs. 5000
of an investment group and they decided to look after
per month 24%
the girl. Later the girl was adapted by a couple having
members getting more
no issue since 14 years. This women’s investment
than Rs. 5000 1%
groups have showed social awareness.
The members working with sewing machines
8.Mutual Co-operation:-
have less income as compared to those working m dairy
Initially needy members are supported by
cloth business. The highest income is found in the
other with the investments they have made Later they
members working in brick production and tractor’s work
take loans from banks without any deposit but on the
this women have increased their family income.
confidence of the members in the investment group.
3. Literacy: - I literate and half-educated women face
Every member has to repay regularly if any member fails
many problems when they discuss any issue in their
to do so, other don’t get any grant. So all members
investment groups They are trying to get educated
should have mutual co-operation to repay the loans. In
through literacy classes. They are telling the impor-
difficulty all members show such mutual co-operation.
tance of education to their children. This investment
9. Conclusion:-
groups have contributed to literacy campaign.
From the above information we can conclude
4.Variety of Business / Industries:-
that women can work in any field including social,
Women have established difference busi-
industrial, etc. Due to investment groups, women have
nesses according to their education. In Chandrapur an
reached from Grampanchayat to Loksabha. They are
investment group provided a Marathi cinema spend-
successfully working in social fields like Banking,
ing 15 million rupees where as in Yavotmal Savitribai
Educational, Institutions, Health facilities, Environ-
Phule women’s investment group has stored produc-
ment, Tourism etc. They are soaring high in industri-
tion of CFL bulbs. These things show that women’s
alization. Investment group have increased women’s
investment groups are taking difference businesses.
confidence and self reliance and undoubtedly devel-
5. Politics:- women’s confidence increased due to in-
oped them economically, politically, socially & educa-
R E F E R E N C E tionally.
1) Swayam Sahayata Samuha :- Dr. V.V. Ghanekar 2) Samajik Vadhavinari Swayam Siddha :- Anil Asulkar 5) Dainik News
Shastriya Sanshodhan :- P.L. Bhandarkar3) Bhartatil Swayam Papers.
Sahayata Gat :- K.R.Sanap / Sanjiv Late. 4) Kshamata
SHODH, SAMIKSHA AUR MULYANKAN 15