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

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.