Role of SHGs in Political Participation and Community Mobilisation in Manchar, Maharashtra: A Multifocal Approach

Authors

  • Shuchi Benara Misra Assistant Professor, Symbiosis School of Economics, Symbiosis International (Deemed University) Pune, Maharashtra
  • Dakshita Srinivasan Student, Symbiosis School of Economics, Symbiosis International (Deemed University) Pune, Maharashtra
  • Eshaan Ghosh Student, Symbiosis School of Economics, Symbiosis International (Deemed University) Pune, Maharashtra
  • Maahi Bumb Student, Symbiosis School of Economics, Symbiosis International (Deemed University) Pune, Maharashtra
  • Mahima Menon Student, Symbiosis School of Economics, Symbiosis International (Deemed University) Pune, Maharashtra
  • Priya Joseph Student, Symbiosis School of Economics, Symbiosis International (Deemed University) Pune, Maharashtra
  • Boyiri Gayathri Varma Student, Symbiosis School of Economics, Symbiosis International (Deemed University) Pune, Maharashtra

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25175/jrd/2023/v43/i1/170810

Keywords:

Political Participation, Self-Help Groups, Maharashtra, Community Mobilisation, COVID-19.

Abstract

Self-help groups (SHGs) have been successful in the empowerment of Indian women. In the past, research has been conducted on SHGs and their linkage to political awareness and participation. However, there is a dearth of studies conducted on Maharashtra’s SHG landscape, as well as the individual and community-level impact of SHG membership in the same geographical area. Further, most studies have focused on the dimension of political participation. This research uses surveys and focus group discussions to gain meaningful insights on a comprehensive list of variables related to political participation in the census town of Manchar, Maharashtra. Using non-probability sampling, responses from control and treatment groups were analysed and measured to understand the impact of SHG on political participation and community mobilisation. The results show that SHG membership is highly impactful in dimensions like grievance redressal and electoral decisions. Further, the scale of an SHG’s operations coincides with its ability to bring about community-level change. SHGs are also uniquely positioned to leverage their workforce and resources to aid PRIs with social initiatives, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2024-09-27

How to Cite

Misra, S. B., Srinivasan, D., Ghosh, E., Bumb, M., Menon, M., Joseph, P., & Varma, B. G. (2024). Role of SHGs in Political Participation and Community Mobilisation in Manchar, Maharashtra: A Multifocal Approach. Journal of Rural Development, 43(1), 110–125. https://doi.org/10.25175/jrd/2023/v43/i1/170810

Issue

Volume 43, Issue 1, January-March 2024

Section

Research Papers
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

References

Aggarwal, S., Rameshwar, R., & Pahuja, A. (2021, January). Impact of SHGs on social, economic and political women empowerment: a case study of Ghaziabad District, India. World Review of Entrepreneurship Management and Sustainable Development, 17(2/3), 276-290. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1504/WREMSD.2021.114434

Bandhyopadhyay, D., Yugandhar, B., & Mukherjee, A. (2002). Convergence of Programmes by Empowering SHGs and PRIs. Economic and Political Weekly, 37(26), 2556-2561.

Beaman, L., Chattopadhyay, R., Duflo, E., Pande, R., & Topalova, P. (2009, November). Powerful Women: Does Exposure Reduce Bias? The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 124(4), 1497-1540. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1162/qjec.2009.124.4.1497

Bhowmick, S. (2020, July 31). COVID-19 and Women’s Self-Help Groups. ORF. Retrieved February 22, 2022, from https://www.orfonline.org/research/covid19-and-womens-self-help-groups/

Boef, W. S., Singh, S., Trivedi, P., Kumar, S., Yadavendra, J. P., Yadav, K. S., Isaacs, K. (2021). Unleashing the Social Capital of Self-Help Groups for Strengthening Seed Systems in Uttar Pradesh, India (Vol. 29). Netherlands: Global Food Security. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2021.100522

Brody, C., Hoop, T. D., Vojtkova, M., Warnock, R., Dunbar, M., Murthy, P., & Dworkin, S. L. (2017). Can Self-Help Group Programs Improve Women’s Empowerment? A Systematic Review. Journal of Development Effectiveness, 9(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.1080/19439342.2016.1206607 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19439342.2016.1206607

Casini, P., Vandewalle, L., & Wahhaj, Z. (2017). Public Good Provision in Indian Rural Areas: The Returns to Collective Action by Microfinance Groups. The World Bank Economic Review, 31(1), 97-128. https://doi.org/10.1093/wber/lhv041 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1596/30130

Chary, M. (2012). Women and Political Participation in India: A Historical Perspective. The Indian Journal of Political Science, 73(1), 119-132. https://www.jstor.org/stable/41856567

Chatterjee, S. (2016). Power to Dalits through Self-help Groups. Economic and Political Weekly, 51(41)

Chattopadhyay, R., & Duflo, E. (2004). Women as Policymakers: Evidence from a Randomized Policy Experiment in India. Econometrica, 72(5), 1409-1443. https://economics.mit.edu/files/792 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0262.2004.00539.x

Desai, R. M., & Joshi, S. (2013). Collective Action and Community Development: Evidence from Self-Help Groups in Rural India. The World Bank Economic Review, 28(3), 492 – 524. https://doi.org/10.1093/wber/lht024

Deshpande, A., & Khanna, S. (2021). Can Weak Ties Create Social Capital? Evidence from Self-Help Groups in Rural India (Vol. 146). India: World Development. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2021.105534

Devi, S. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Self-Help Groups. Sambodhi Journal, 46(2), 135-138.

Dulhunty, A. (2020, July 10). Gendered Isolation, Idealised Communities and the Role of Collective Power in West Bengal Self-Help Groups. Gender, Place & Culture, 28(5), 725-746. https://doi.org/10.1080/0966369X.2020.1754167 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0966369X.2020.1754167

Global Gender Gap Report 2021. (2021, March 2). weforum.org. Retrieved February 22, 2022, from https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGGR_2021.pdf

Himachal Pradesh: 80 Per Cent Voter Turnout in Panchayat Polls, Women Take Lead. (2021, January 22). The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/himachal-pradesh-80-voter-turnout-in-panchayat-polls-women-take-lead-7157741/

Joshi, S., & Desai, R. (2013, September 7). Collective Action and Community Development: Evidence from Women’s Self-Help Groups in Rural India. The World Bank Economic Review, 28(3), 492-524. https://academic.oup.com/wber/article-abstract/28/3/492/1678377 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/wber/lht024

Kumar, N., Raghunathan, K., Arrieta, A., Jilani, A., Chakrabarti, S., Menon, P., & Quisumbing, A. R. (2019, February). Social Networks, Mobility, and Political Participation: The Potential for Women’s Self-Help Groups to Improve Access and Use of Public Entitlement Schemes in India. World Development, 114, 28-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.09.023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.09.023

Kumar, N., Raghunathan, K., Arrieta, A., Jilani, A., & Pandey, S. (2021). The Power of the Collective Empowers Women: Evidence from Self-Help Groups in India (Vol. 146). India: World Development. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2021.105579

Majid, E., Nath, S., & Unnayan, S. (n.d.). Convergence of Women Self-Help Groups and Gram Panchayat. Synergistic Effect of Women Participation in SHG and PRI - An Interface of Achieving Women Empowerment in Rural India. National Institute of Rural Development. http://nirdpr.org.in/nird_docs/casestudies/shramjivi/shramjivi4.pdf

Mathur, P., & Agarwal, P. (2017). Self-Help Groups: A Seed for Intrinsic Empowerment of Indian Rural Women. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 36(2), 182-196. https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-05-2016-0039 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-05-2016-0039

Modak, S., Baksi, S., & Johnson, D. (2020). Impact of Covid-19 on Indian Villages. Review of Agrarian Studies. Retrieved February 22, 2022, from http://ras.org.in/d1f1c91f41c51238d19a505303ce14eb

Prillaman, S. A. (2020, September). The Power of Women’s Collective Action. EDI COVID-19 ESSAY SERIES, 0(0). www.edi.opml.co.uk

Prillaman, S. A. (2023). Strength in Numbers: How Women’s Groups Close India’s Political Gender Gap. American Journal of Political Science, 67(2), 390-410. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajps.12651 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ajps.12651

Raabe, K., Sekhar, M., & Birner, R. (2009). The Effects of Political Reservations for Women on Local Governance and Rural Service Provision. Retrieved February 20, 2022, from https://ebrary.ifpri.org/utils/getfile/collection/p15738coll2/id/30034/filename/30035.pdf

Rao, C., & Galab, S. (2003). Women’s Self-Help Groups, Poverty Alleviation and Empowerment. Economic and Political Weekly, 38(12), 1274-1283.

Reddy, K., & Reddy, C. S. (2012). Self Help Groups in India: A Study on Quality and Sustainability. apmas.org. Retrieved February 22, 2022, from http://www.apmas.org/pdf/research-advocacy/study-papers/201212-Self-Help-Groups-in-India-A-Study-on-Quality-and-Sustainability.pdf

Saha, S., Annear, P. L., & Pathak, S. (2013). The Effect of Self-Help Groups on Access to Maternal Health Services: Evidence from Rural India. International Journal for Equity in Health, 12(36). https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-9276-12-36 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-9276-12-36

Salgaonkar, P., & Salgaonkar, S. (2009). Panchayats and Women Self Help Groups: Understanding the Symbiosis. The Indian Journal of Political Science, 70(2), 481-494.

Sreeramulu, G., & Hushenkhan, P. (2008, July). Political Empowerment of Women through Self Help Groups (SHGs): A Study in Andhra Pradesh. The Indian Journal of Political Science, 69(3), 609-617.

Swain, R., & Varghese, A. (2011). Reassessing the Impact of SHG Participation with Non-experimental Approaches. Economic and Political Weekly, 46(11), 50-57.

Tankha, R. (2021, May 8). Women’s Leadership in COVID-19 Response: Self-help Groups of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission Show the Way. Economic and Political Weekly, 56(19), 1-11.