Profile and group dynamics effectiveness of women SHG members in Nagpur district of Maharashtra

Abstract:

Self-help groups (SHGs) provide an important platform for women to work collectively, improve their livelihoods and strengthen their socio-economic position. The effectiveness of SHGs largely depends on the quality of interaction, cooperation and collective functioning among their members. The present study was undertaken to assess the group dynamics effectiveness of women SHG members and to examine the influence of selected socio-economic, social, communication and psychological characteristics on their group dynamics effectiveness in Nagpur district of Maharashtra. An exploratory research design was adopted for the study, and 120 SHG members were selected from Hingna, Kamptee and Kalmeshwar talukas. Data were collected through a structured interview schedule and analysed using frequency, percentage, correlation and multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that the majority of respondents were middle-aged, had secondary-level education, belonged to the small landholding category and had medium levels of source of information, social participation, extension participation, economic motivation and achievement motivation. Most respondents exhibited a medium favourable attitude towards SHGs, collectivism and group decision-making. Overall, 73.33 per cent of the respondents exhibited high to very high levels of group dynamics effectiveness, the findings suggest that continued efforts to enhance participation, extension linkages, collective decision-making and cooperative functioning may further improve the effectiveness and sustainability of women’s self-help groups.