Factors influencing women's participation in SHGs: An empirical evidence from mayurbhanj district of Odisha, India

Abstract

Women's empowerment is essential for fostering inclusive and sustainable development. In India, self-help groups are widely recognised as an effective strategy not only for women's empowerment but also tackling poverty. The main objective of the study is to assess factors that influence women's participation in self-help groups (SHGs) and ascertain its impact on social and economic empowerment. The study was done in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, India. Primary data have been collected from female respondents of SHGs, members and non-members. Logit regression model has been used to explain the factors influencing women's involvement in self-help groups and empowerment index has been developed to assess how SHGs affect women's empowerment. The findings indicates that age, family structure, access to credit, community participation, and land ownership, significantly affect women's participation in SHGs.