Role of Women Empowerment in Human Development - A study of Select Self-Help Groups Dr. Nampalli Sreenivas*, Dr. Sarma V.V. Subramanya** *Assistant Professor, Chaitanya Post Graduate College, Hanamkonda, Warangal **Professor, Kakatiya University, Warangal Online published on 6 August, 2014. Abstract The term empowerment is used to refer to self reliance and self respect in order to enable each person to reach god given potential. It is also considered as process of change by which individuals or groups with little or no power gain the power and ability to make choices that affect their lives. Women empowerment is a combination of women's increased economic activity and control over income resulting from access to financial services with improved skills, mobility and knowledge. This facilitates the women to improve the status within the household and community. These changes are reinforced by group formation, leading to wider movements for social and political change which contributes to human development. Microfinance is the provision of financial services to low income clients; solidarity lending groups and self employed who traditionally lack access to banking and related services. It plays a significant role in improving the living status of Self Help Group families and their children. The present study examines the role of women empowerment on the living conditions of the individual households in the pre-SHG and post-SHG scenario. Top Keywords Micro Finance, SHG, Women Empowerment, Human Development. Top |