Published Paper Details:

Abstract: Generally, women have multi-faceted personality. Traditionally, women are thought to be the symbol of sacrifice. They play a simultaneous role of a daughter, sister, wife, mother and their activities were mainly conformed within the boundary of four walls. Rural women participated in several agricultural activities. But, most of the South Asian Countries, the status of women is low and their socio-economic conditions are much more depressed than that of men. Regional variations and disparities make them even more vulnerable. In this stage, the Self Help Groups in Andhra Pradesh has been a revelation in bringing economic and social empowerment among the women in rural areas and a silent revolution towards the change for better. It is envisaged that the Self Help Groups would help to improve socio economic status of the rural women in general and social inclusion of the Scheduled Caste women, the most downtrodden, in particular. The Scheduled Caste Women suffered from twin disadvantage, one because of their caste and the other because of their gender; as a result their exclusion was complete and comprehensive. They were underprivileged among the under-privileged and discriminated among the discriminated. This paper focuses on scheduled caste women empowerment through SHGs.