SELF-HELP GROUPS IN U. P.: A PATHWAY OUT OF POVERTY TO PROSPERITY (An empirical study of district Kanpur Dehat)

Abstract

Poverty and unemployment are the major problems of any under developed countries, to which India is no exception. In the rural area 27.1% of the population was living under poverty. Uttar Pradesh having largest population in India is also considered to be a politically strong, enlightened and decisive force in India’s political gamut. It is the most populous state having 16.44 percent of country’s population. The Literacy rate in the state is 57.36% that comprises of 70.23% male literacy and 42.98% of female literacy. The rural literacy rate of the state is 36.66% (census 2001) in which women literacy rate is 19.02% while men literacy is 52.05%.The district Kanpur Dehat, the area of study, has about 43.1% of total population below poverty line. The incidence of poverty in the district Kanpur Dehat is related to the occupational status of the households. Poverty is the highest among casual labour households, both in rural and urban areas, whereas regular and salaried workers are the lowest poor. The access to well paid jobs is particularly restricted for certain groups, such as women and SC/ST, who form the bulk of the casual labour force and of those engaging in low paid activities. Women have been the vulnerable section of society and constitute a sizeable segment of the poverty-struck population. The empowerment of Rural Women is crucial for the development of the Rural India. Economic empowerment results in women’s ability to influence or make decision, increased self confidence, better status and role in household etc. The programmes for Poverty Alleviation have a women's component to ensure flow of adequate funds to this section. Women self-help groups (SHG) in rural areas of India have brought several thousands of uneducated women out of the confines of their homes and enabled them to gain not only considerable economic independence, but also an identity and collective voice. The study of impact of SHG is undertaken for Kanpur district in which 6150 SHG were working of which 150 were selected. The study has been carried out in Six Blocks of Kanpur dehat that were selected randomly and from each block 05 villages were selected randomly for the purpose of survey. The study uses both primary and secondary data.

The experience of SHG shows that SHG can act as a vehicle to transform the lives of the poor and make the growth process inclusive. The SHG can act as an alternative institutional asset up to tackle the problems of unemployment poverty and gender justice.