PERFORMANCE OF WOMEN SELF HELP GROUPS AND THEIR

PROBLEMS

*Mrs. Karuna Kiran Malshet *Dr.L. Manjunath

Asst. Professor, Agri Extension Prof. Agri
Extension
EEU, UAS Dharwad Dept. of Agri. Extension
Education
UAS Dharwad

A study was conducted during 2004-05 in Dharwad, Kalaghatgi

and Kundgol Taluq of Dharwad district covering 12 women SHGs. The
purpose was to obtain a comprehensive knowledge of the performance
of SHGs in Dharwad district with special importance to the procedure
followed in the formation activities undertaken, benefits derived by the
members, the difficulties encountered as well as their suggestions and
socio-economic profile of members. All the members of SHGs and grass
root level workers of NGOs were interviewed.

The findings of the study showed that most of the respondents

were initiated by themselves (43.33%). Popular economic activities
taken up by the individuals after joining the SHGs were, raising paddy
nursery for sale (25.83%), and pickle making (19.16%). The group
activities included the attempts to solve drinking water problems
(66.67%), purchase of groceries in bulk (58.33%).

The SHG members faced constraints like misunderstanding

amongst SHG members (39.16%), difficulties in diversification of
activities or starting new activities (37.50%).

The misunderstanding between the SHG members was obvious

due to multiple trade practices of the groups. In the heterogeneous
nature of the SHGs, variation in socio-economic status, in which
education, caste, income, age, family background and family status are
pertinent and natural. It is but possible that better skill oriented women
are /and better socio-economic status members may dominate other
members of the group subduing the rest in decision making, which
invariably creates misunderstanding, indecisiveness and inferiority
feeling which will further hamper the situation of working in harmony
for common goal.

The socio-economic profiles revealed that majority of the

members were middle aged (68.33%), married (71.60%), illiterates
(68.33%) with nuclear families (70%). 42.50% of them were farm
laborers. Maximum percentage of the sample (47.50%), were landless
or small/marginal farmers below the poverty line.