Are SHGs catalysts for rural empowerment Impact assessment of Stree Shakti interventions in India

Self-Help Group (SHG) is a crucial initiative to enable financial inclusion with multiple aims like access to microcredit, enabling income generation, savings and thereby eventually empowering the poor. This study attempts to evaluate if SHGs can be a change agent influencing women's empowerment. Findings revealed that there is an increase in the average income, and savings of SHG members. Microfinance related loan augment was found to be causing a significant difference in their empowerment level. Social and legal awareness caused a considerable impact on the social empowerment of members and better access to credit facilities has the significant impact on their economic empowerment followed by access to resources and promotional assistance. While study for longer term effect is desirable, even in the short term the program helped to improve the consumption and income generation. SHG program could well be the catalyst to achieve inclusive growth. The study offers important policy suggestions.