A Sociological Study on The Empowerment Of Women With Special Reference To Mahasemam Trust Madurai

Abstract

Self Help Group is a small voluntary organisation of poor people, preferably from the same socio-economic background. They come together for the purpose of solving their common problems through self help and mutual help. It promotes small savings and the savings kept with Bank. Mahasemam is a micro finance organisation registered under the Indian Trust Act 1882. It started its operation and Self Help Group (SHG) model in Madurai where it categorize five members who constitute a group and eight such groups formed a centre. Each centre have 40 women members in Madurai Dt. Now it is also setting up SMILE and its network from 2004 in TamilNadu . It is to promote the status of women. It provides loans to poor women for various income generation activities and to train them in basic marketing skills . It is the first Micro Finance Institution in India to start Bio-Diesel and Bio-Gas projects for generation of clean eco friendly and also to give a boost to employment generation. As a computerized agency, it is the first one to introduce SMART CARD to keep the accounts and records of loan transactions. Hence a study is taken up to know the status of women. newlineTITLE: A SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY ON THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MAHASEMAM TRUST - MADURAI Main Objectives:(1) To find out the Socio-Economic Profile of Women in Mahasemam (2)To know the Factors influencing the Participation of Women in Mahasemam(3) To elucidate the Social Status and Self Esteem of Women in Mahasemam(4) To trace out the Programmes on Capacity Building for Women in Mahasemam(5) To assess the Effect of Mahasemam on the Empowerment of Women Methodology: Descriptive design is used to study 500samples selected on the basis of Tippet s sampling.Tools : 1. Interview Schedule, 2. Focus Group Discussion 3 .Case Study 4. Observation Data Analysis: Percentage Analysisand Chi-Square Test were used to analyse the data. Findings: 21.4% were in the age group of 35-39 years. 57.8% of the respondents have the savings ability of below Rs.5