Rendering support for the empowerment of rural women to overcome life impediments
Empowerment; Livelihood; Rural; Self-help group; Status; Women
The socio-cultural and economic landscape of rural India is not totally conducive for women. Surveys and reports in this regard would suggest the continuous existence of gender-based discrimination and its negative effects on the status and livelihood of rural women. Recognizing this situation, the Centre for Social Action (CSA) has pioneered its efforts to sensitize and involve youth (especially students) in the mitigation of rural issues and has been supporting women in select villages by promoting Self Help Groups (SHGs). These SHGs, in turn, organize capacitybuilding and empowerment programmes for the women to enhance their livelihood and socio-economic well-being. The present study is designed to understand the impact of CSA's intervention on the status and livelihood of women in the select project sites. Towards this end, we collected data from a sample of 150 women beneficiaries of CSA's initiative using a structured interview schedule. The study used a mixedmethod design. The study's outcome indicates a positive correlation between women's participation in CSA initiatives and their status and livelihood improvements. The results are encouraging that they would help one formulate effective models similar to this one for the empowerment of women. 2024 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
Models for Social Responsibility Action by Higher Education Institutions, pp. 87-98.
Om Prakash L.T., Department of Sociology and Social Work, Christ University, Bengaluru, India; Shaji A., Centre for Social Action, Christ University, Bengaluru, India