Initiating social change through self help groups: Case studies from Maharashtra

       There is considerable discussion in development literature on the efficacy of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in realizing the goals of gender justice. On the one hand, nation states and multilateral agencies float SHG formation as a “quick fix” solution to meeting the livelihood needs of vulnerable communities; on the other, the SHG movement is criticized as an imperfect solution to the prevailing socio-economic inequalities in society. Stemming largely from the Left criticism of the ongoing process of economic liberalization and globalization, these studies have argued that the SHG programmes do not address the real problems of vulnerable communities. Apart from their failure to meet the livelihood needs of the people, the excessive focus of the SHG programmes on banking and credit prevents it from realizing its potential of social and political transformation. The most scathing criticism of the movement is that it actually reinforces the status quo and keeps rural communities enmeshed in debt.

       This paper seeks to examine these questions on the basis of the ground-level experiences of the SHG movement in Maharashtra, one of the larger states in India. Beginning with a brief description of the movement in the state, it explores the impact of the movement on local communities.  Some of the questions asked on the basis of my field research studies on SHGs are as follows: 1) to what extent does the movement enable women to move out of poverty? Or is the claims made by the programme facilitators merely an illusory change? 2) Does the movement have the potential to enable women to participate in local governance structures and challenge some of the entrenched inequalities of caste and gender? And 3) to what extent does women’s involvement in community development activities through the movement impact on their status?