Exploring the Impact of SHGs on Women Empowerment in the Delhi NCR Region

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31305/rrijm.2025.v10.n6.002

Keywords:

Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Women’s Empowerment, Social Challenges, Digital Literacy, Mobility & Participation, Financial Inclusion, Delhi NCR

Abstract

The present study investigates the multifaceted impact of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) on women’s empowerment in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) of India. Self-Help Groups have come to be recognized not solely as mechanisms of financial inclusion but as social instruments enabling enhanced self-confidence, decision-making capabilities, and community participation among women. Through a mixed-methods empirical approach combining surveys, focus group discussions, and personal interviews with SHG members, this research examines variables such as household income, asset ownership, mobility, financial decision-making, social participation, and psychological empowerment. The findings reveal that membership in SHGs is strongly correlated with increases in income, savings, and individual agency. However, gaps remain in areas such as digital literacy, market linkages, and policy support. Based on the evidence gathered, strategic recommendations are offered to strengthen programme design, operational framework, and policy integration concerning SHGs within urban and peri-urban contexts. The study concludes by suggesting future research pathways, particularly emphasizing longitudinal tracking and comparative analysis between rural and urban SHG outcomes.

Author Biographies

Sangeeta Yadav, PhD Scholar, School of commerce and management, Starex University, Gurgaon, India

Sangeeta Yadav is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Management at the School of Commerce and Management, Starex University, Gurugram (India). She holds a Bachelor's & Master's degree in Commerce from Maharshi Dayanand University. Rohtak, Haryana (India). Her academic interests revolve around women empowerment, inclusive development, and the role of community-based institutions such as Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in fostering socio-economic transformation. With practical experience in the development sector, she has served as a founder, director at LS Foundation (Registered NGO), where she worked extensively with Self-Help Groups. This field engagement has provided her with firsthand insights into the challenges and successes of grassroots empowerment initiatives, especially among women in underserved regions. Her ongoing research focuses on the socio-economic impact of SHGs in the Delhi-NCR region, aiming to contribute valuable policy recommendations and strategic frameworks to enhance the effectiveness of SHG-led development models.

Hari Lal Bhaskar, Associate Professor, School of commerce and management, Starex University, Gurgaon, India

Dr. H. L. Bhaskar is an Associate Professor and Researcher at School of Commerce & Management, Starex University, Gurugram, Haryana, (India). He received his PhD in Business Administration from Department of Business Administration, D.D.U. Gorakhpur University Gorakhpur, U.P., India and MBA in HRM and Marketing specialization from Institute of Cooperative and Corporate Management Research and Training (ICCMRT), Lucknow, U.P., India. He has qualified UGC-NET/JRF in management subject. His research and professional interests are Business Process Reengineering (BPR), Business Process Management, HRM/OB, Consumer Behaviour, Industrial Management, Industrial Psychology/Sociology etc. He has published many papers in reputed indexed international journals. He is also regular reviewer of reputed indexed international journals like IEEE Access, TQM Journal, SSMS, Emerald’s BPMJ, Industrial Management & Data Systems, Elsevier’s Sustainable Futures, Springer’s Current Psychology, SJM Serbia etc.

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Published

16-06-2025

How to Cite

Yadav, S., & Bhaskar, H. L. (2025). Exploring the Impact of SHGs on Women Empowerment in the Delhi NCR Region. RESEARCH REVIEW International Journal of Multidisciplinary, 10(6), 13–22. https://doi.org/10.31305/rrijm.2025.v10.n6.002

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Vol. 10 No. 6 (2025): RESEARCH REVIEW International Journal of Multidisciplinary

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