Published Paper Details:

The process of n women socially and economically has gained prominence through the Self Help Group (SHG) and its Bank Linkage Program. Numerous researchers and authors have praised the SHG initiative, considering it a key approach to promoting women's empowerment. SHGs are typically small, informal groups of people, usually women, who come together with a common purpose. The primary goal of this study is to evaluate the impact of SHGs on the socio-economic empowerment of rural women, as well as to assess the changes in their socio-economic, cultural, and behavioral conditions after joining the SHGs. Additionally, the study seeks to identify the key challenges and issues faced by SHGs in the selected area. The research is conducted in rural areas of Chitradurga distric, using both primary and secondary data sources. Primary data is collected through field surveys in the study area, focusing on a sample of 12 SHGs from Chitardurga district. Various aspects of the SHGs, such as educational background, age, economic status, and occupational patterns, are analyzed before and after members join the groups. The findings show that after joining SHGs, rural women members experienced significant empowerment, with noticeable improvements in self-esteem and positive behavioral changes.