Ghale, Subha2023-06-212023-06-212010https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14540/18066The study entitled “Role of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Women Empowerment: A Case Study of SHGs in Belsi, Ratna Nagar Municipality of Chitwan District” seeks to explore the process of women empowerment through SHG intervention in the context of great important being given to the collective strength of self-help group approach. The study is situated in Belsi Tol of Ratna Nagar Municipality in Chitwan District. Heifer International worked in Belsi from 2000 -2002 using SHGs as its platform for development intervention. The study was carried out with the objectives of understanding the process of empowering women through the intervention of self-help group and its socio-economic impact on SHG members. A descriptive research design was carried out for the study. The study uses both qualitative and quantitative data. The 30 households (37%) were taken as the sample out of the 79 households of the study area. Questionnaire, interviews, participatory observation, focus group discussion, checklist and case study were the tools used for data collection. Since poor women often lack basic capabilities and self-confidence to counter and challenge existing disparities and barriers against them, the women by getting organized into groups can draw strength from one another and moblise for their development. Delivery of physical inputs like goats, vegetable and forage seeds were used as an entry point to reach a community. As SHGs began to recognize their potential within group and outside sources, SHG members could carry out their action plan made during the group meetings. With income generated through physical inputs and trainings resulting in better economic condition, the focus of the SHG gradually expanded beyond individual growth to community development. SHG began to mobilize as a group to address larger issues in the communities and tap other local resources such as DDC fund for community level development activities like constructing road, building dam, community center, etc. Since the idea and resources originated from the community, the undertaking became more sustainable. The practice of POG, also considered the ‘heart’ of the process of empowerment, was a powerful concept. Conceptually, POG is a process through which SHG member who received support were made responsible and inspired to pass on an offspring, or equivalent of the livestock received, to another needy family in the neighbourhood. The SHG forms women in the neighbourhood into another SHG (called POG group) before passing on the support. POG is built on the idea of empowerment coming full circle when those empowered have the ability and will to empower others. Developing capacity and willingness to pass on one’s knowledge and sharing one’s resources with others is the surest way to achieve social change. Those who have gained some social and economic stability as a result of empowerment often tend to believe that the process ends there. However, once they realize that real change only comes after empowerment spreads across the community and society; families are willing to make efforts to achieve that goal.en-USWomen empowermentSelf-help groupThesis