The Impact of Self-Help Groups on Women's Participation in Decision Making: A Micro Level Study

This study explores the transformative impact of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) on women’s participation in decision-making at the household level in Karnataka, India, with a specific focus on Mysore District. Using primary data collected from 193 SHG members and 191 non-members, the paper adopts Sen's Capability Approach to evaluate the impact of SHGs on the empowerment of women. Findings reveal that SHG membership significantly enhances women's economic autonomy, confidence, and participation in health, education, and property decisions. SHG members also exhibit higher property ownership and greater involvement in decisions compared to non-members. Despite these advancements, challenges such as patriarchal norms and unequal resource distribution persist. The paper underscores the need for targeted interventions to address these barriers and highlights SHGs as a pivotal tool for socioeconomic development and gender equality.