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M. V. Karuna Jeba Mary ¹, V. Ravichandran ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, T.N., IN

Abstract

Considering the growing significance of self-help groups for women empowerment, an attitude scale was developed to measure the attitude of rural women towards self-help groups by using equal appearing interval scale method. The present study was conducted in three blocks of Theni district with a sample size of 220 women to measure their attitude towards SHGs. For the purpose of this study, attitude was operationalized as the mental disposition of rural women about self-help groups in varying degrees of favourableness or unfavourableness. Since the selected scale values should have equal appearing interval and distributed uniformly along the psychological continuum, it was necessary to form nine compartments so as to select nine statements at one statement from each compartment. Based on high scale and low Q values, nine attitude statements were finally selected and administered for assessing the womens attitude. The nine attitude items finally selected were arranged randomly in order to avoid biased responses. A five-point continuum of 'strongly agree', 'agree', 'undecided' 'disagree' and 'strongly disagree' was used as response categories.

Keywords

Attitude Scale, Equal Appearing Interval, Self-help Group, Women Empowerment, Inter Quartile

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M. V. Karuna Jeba Mary ¹, C. Karthikeyan ², T. N. Sujeetha ³

Affiliations
1 Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (T.N.), IN
2 Agricultural and E-Extension Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (T.N.), IN
3 Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (T.N.), IN

Abstract

A study was conducted in the Theni district of Tamil Nadu with the general objective to find out the changes in livelihood pattern of the rural women. Three blocks that had maximum number of tanks viz., Periyakulam, Andipatti and Bodinayakkanur were selected. Two villages were purposively selected from each of the block. These villages had tanks that were functioning to the extent of supporting the livelihood of SHG women considerably. Accordingly, six representative SHGs were selected drawing members of one SHG from each of the selected villages. All the members of the selected six SHGs constituted the sample for the study. Thus, the total sample size of the study is 102 SHG women. The respondents were interviewed personally by a well-structured interview schedule. The results of the study revealed that 39.22 per cent of rural women were pursuing occupation in service sector, 35.30 per cent in agriculture.

Keywords

Livelihood Options, Rural Women.

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T. N. Sujeetha ¹, V. Ravichandran ¹, M. V. Karuna Jeba Mary ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore(T.N.), IN
2 Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore(T.N.), IN

Abstract

A study was conducted in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu with the general objective to find out the impact of participation of tribal women in SHGs. Among the six tribal communities dwelling in the district, the Kattunayakars and Paniyas were selected as respondents for the study. The results revealed that exhibits that "we" feeling (2.61) among the members and better group co-operation (2.21) have emerged as the major perceived empowerment aspects in respect of psychological and sociological dimensions, respectively. This is followed by improvement in self-confidence (2.05) and joint decision making (2.03) in psychological and sociological dimensions, respectively. Debt clearance (2.14) and development of savings habit (2.14) have been considered as the major perceived economic and political empowerment items, respectively. With respect to perceived cultural empowerment, both the groups of tribal women indicated cultural enrichment due to their participation in SHG activities and operation of entrepreneurial activities.

Keywords

Perceived Empowerment, Tribal Women, SHGs, NGOs.

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