Socio-economic Impact of Self Help Group on Members in Banaskantha District of Gujarat

Abstract

The ex-post-facto study was undertaken in Banaskantha district of Gujarat state to evaluate the socio-economic impact of
Self Help Groups on its members. The district comprises of 12 talukas, from which two talukas viz., Palanpur and Deesa
was selected purposively as these talukas have more number of SHGs. Alist of women SHGs based on animal husbandry
activities were obtained. Total twelve SHGs, six SHGs from each taluka were selected using simple random sampling.
SHG members from each Self Help Group were selected proportionately for making sample size of 120 SHG members as
respondents. Assessment of socio-economic impact was categorized into five aspects viz., (i) Change in income, (ii)
Change in spending pattern, (iii) Change in material possession, (iv) Change in thrift habit and (v) Change in employment
of the respondents. Per cent change in income, spending pattern, material possession, thrift habit and employment was
worked out and overall socio-economic impact of SHGs on its members was calculated by summing the score of all five
dimensions of socio-economic impact and converting into per cent change. The study revealed that impact of SHG in
terms of change in income (38.33 %), change in thrift habit (50.84 %), and change in employment (43.33 %) was found
medium level of change. While impact of SHG in terms of change in spending pattern (57.50 %) and change in material
possession (44.16 %) was found low change. It was recorded that 44.17 per cent of the respondent belonged to medium
level of change of overall socio-economic impact of SHG on its members. Out of eleven variables, seven variables viz.,
education, social participation, occupation, annual income, attitude, innovativeness and media exposure had positive and
significant association with overall socio-economic impact on members of SHG.