SHG & Women’s political participation: Examining Mission Shakti intervention in Bhubaneswar slums

Public policy plays a key role in modern-day welfare regimes, influencing development and politics. The Self-Help Group movement in India is a successful policy initiative that holistically impacts women’s lives, empowering them and promoting gender equality. Political participation is one of the important dimensions of political empowerment. This study focuses on the impact of the state-sponsored Self-Help Group movement programme, i.e. Mission Shakti, on slum women’s political participation in Bhubaneswar city. Drawing a comparative analysis, it is found that members of Mission Shakti groups have a higher level of political participation than women who are not members of that group.