Case Study
Integrating Empowerment in Microfinance: Case of a Self-help Group (SHG) Based Organisation
Evaluating impact of self-help groups on gender relations
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21 pages
This case study examines whether becoming members of Gramin Mahila Swayamsiddha Sangha (GMSS) has contributed to clients' empowerment.
GMSS is a self-help group (SHG) based women's federation in Maharashtra, India. It is promoted by Chaitanya, an NGO. GMSS objectives are to:
- Empower women by enabling them to participate in decision-making processes;
- Create institutions to respond to women's needs;
- Make credit and savings facilities available to women;
- Enable women to come together regularly to share information;
- Enable women to take charge and manage the development process to address their needs;
- Ensure equitable distribution in society.
Staff members of GMSS feel that the program has helped women to voice their needs, learn new skills like SHG management, participate in decision making and mobilize other women. SHG members feel that GMSS has empowered them by giving information about banks and accessing loans and building unity amongst members. Going forward, GMSS intends building capacity across the entire structure, and building links with government to increase SHG negotiating power.
