My Journey With Self-Help Groups In Madhya Pradesh

by | Jan 31, 2025

When I first encountered the term Self-Help Groups (SHG), it sparked immense curiosity. Despite reading about it, I lacked a clear picture of how SHGs function and their impact on women’s lives. This curiosity led me to the communities, and for the past four months, I have been fortunate enough to work closely with SHGs through my engagement with my host organization Chaitanya, in Madhya Pradesh.

The experience has been transformative, but it also raised questions about the true essence of SHGs and how far they help women break barriers. The concept of SHGs paints a broad picture of women coming together in groups of about 12 to 20, pooling small savings, and collectively managing this fund for economic empowerment. In Chaitanya, as elsewhere, this model aligns closely with women empowerment overriding on the infrastructure of micro-finance. Women contribute a fixed amount regularly, creating a savings pool to support members in need.

However, my question is: does this framework fulfil all the aspirations of SHG members? Are these groups facilitating the broader agenda of self-empowerment as an end or the means of access to finance has become the end? Beyond savings, SHGs are meant to foster camaraderie, create a space for women to invest in themselves, and serve as a launchpad for entrepreneurial ventures. But is this truly happening?

The Reality Of SHGs On The Ground

Chaitanya has worked tirelessly to establish SHGs across three states – Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh, investing significant resources to empower women. Yet, the actual implementation often depends on the field staff—the individuals interacting directly with SHG members.

During my fieldwork, I observed that while the financial aspect of SHGs thrives, the other critical goals—like fostering friendships, encouraging women to take time for themselves, and nurturing their confidence—sometimes fall by the wayside. The question remains: why don’t facilitators or field staff emphasize these aspects more? How can one shift this?

Bonding Over Food

One story that stands out is from Devguraria village, home to four SHGs. I joined a monthly meeting organised under the village organization, where all SHGs come together. To break the ice, I started conversations about recipes. It might sound trivial, but discussing cooking became a powerful tool. Asking questions like, “Didi, aapne yeh kaise banaya?” created an instant connection. Slowly, these conversations led to deeper discussions on gender inequality, the purdah system, and women’s roles in local development.

During one such meeting, we prepared for the formation of a Social Action Committee (SAC). The SAC serves as a bridge between SHGs and the panchayat, enabling women to participate in local governance and access government schemes. The next week, despite it being a Saturday, a significant number of women gathered at the panchayat. They questioned the Sarpanch (village head in Panchayati Raj Institution structure) about issues like poor roads and water supply. While these problems aren’t resolved yet, the enthusiasm and assertiveness of these women were inspiring.

The Social Action Committee (SAC)

They just needed a nudge and a platform to voice their concerns. SAC are formed at the village organization (VO) level plays a crucial role in promoting the economic and social well-being of women within the community. These committees address issues such as domestic violence, property disputes, and family conflicts, often acting as mediators and first responders. For example, in one village, the SAC intervened in a domestic violence case by providing counselling, coordinating with the police, and ensuring the victim’s safety through shelter support. SAC members also organize awareness campaigns on women’s legal rights, gender equality, and government welfare schemes.

In Madhya Pradesh, an SAC conducted a successful drive to educate villagers about the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA), leading to increased case reporting. They regularly sensitize communities about gender biases, the importance of girls’ education, and the prevention of child marriage. In one instance, the SAC prevented the marriage of a 15-year-old girl by persuading her family to postpone it until she turned 18 and facilitating her enrolment in school.

These committees also empower women economically by connecting them to skill-building workshops and livelihood programs. SAC facilitates access to welfare schemes like Ladli Behna Yojana (1250 rupees per month to women), and Sukanya Yojana. Women are actively participating not yet reached that place but they are trying and doing survey for these works.

Challenges And Opportunities

Working with SHGs has been a learning experience, not just for the women but for me as well. One of the significant challenges I’ve observed is the lack of consistent follow-up and engagement beyond financial transactions. While savings and loans are vital, they should not be the sole focus. SHGs have the potential to address a wide range of issues, from health and education to domestic violence and community development.

A big challenge I have noticed is that organizations often focus on achieving numbers—like how much money was saved or how many loans were given—because these are easy to track. But things like ’empowerment’ are harder to measure. Often when something is complex to measure, intangible, we tend to leave them alone. However, this soon translates to lack of attention.

Nudges like instead of counting how many training sessions are held, if we track how many women confidently speak up in meetings or take leadership roles in their communities.

Second, we set a specific milestone for awareness like if we measure how many women become aware of their rights or government schemes after an awareness session, and how many actually use this knowledge. Another challenge is the deep-rooted societal norms that often limit women’s participation. Many women hesitate to speak up in meetings or share their concerns, fearing judgment or backlash. It’s crucial to create an environment where women feel empowered to express themselves and take ownership of their lives.

A Powerful Tool For Social Change

On the flip side, the opportunities are immense. SHGs can be a powerful tool for social change, provided they are nurtured and supported effectively. Facilitators play a crucial role in this process. They need to go beyond their administrative roles and become mentors and advocates for the women they work with. By building trust and fostering open communication, facilitators can help women unlock their full potential.

When SHGs move beyond just financial transactions and focus on broader issues like education, health, or rights awareness, they can transform communities. However, this transformation requires facilitators to take on more meaningful roles. Instead of merely managing records and transactions, facilitators should become mentors, advocates, and role models for the women they work with. By building trust and creating an open, safe space for communication, facilitators can empower women to realize their capabilities and bring about real change.

Some ways through which facilitators can enhance SHG by encourage leadership development like gender literacy training, regular leadership rotation for checking aggressions and more responsibility pass on from facilitator to SHG members. Finally, build relationships so that it will create more trust leading to a comfortable meeting, this will create a safe space for them to share stories.

A group of women sitting in a circle on a mat and listening to a woman standing and sharing something

Collaboration – Is It Possible?

Over the past four months, I have learned that change doesn’t happen overnight. It requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to listen. Women in SHGs are incredibly resilient and resourceful, but they often need guidance and encouragement to realize their capabilities fully. Simple actions, like starting a conversation about recipes or organizing a meeting with local leaders, can have a profound impact.

Another important lesson is the value of collaboration. SHGs thrive when women work together towards a common goal. Whether it’s saving money, starting a business, or addressing community issues, the collective strength of the group is what makes SHGs so effective. Facilitators and organizations need to harness this collective strength and channel it towards meaningful outcomes.

Some Role Models

For example, in Kampel, a group of SHG women demonstrated the power of collaboration by planning to buy a piece of land collectively. Their vision was to wait for the land’s value to appreciate over time, ensuring a higher return on their investment in the future. This initiative reflects not only their ability to think for the greater good but also their focus on long-term benefits.

Another inspiring instance is from Kalamaitri, where women with stitching skills came together. Despite their individual talents, they needed a facilitating organization to form and ‘hold’ them into a collective. With Chaitanya’s support and guidance, they transformed their individual efforts into a cohesive group enterprise, showcasing how essential facilitators are in empowering SHGs.

A woman wearing a colorful saree with a peacock feather design on her blouse is sitting at a table. She is writing in a ledger or form using a pen. On the table in front of her, there is a stack of printed and patterned fabrics arranged in various colors and designs. The setting appears to be a workshop or workspace for textiles.
A Kala Maitri member filling out a register at work between stitching

The Way Forward

These experiences reaffirmed my belief that women possess immense potential and understanding; they often just need encouragement and support. Small, thoughtful actions can spark significant change. Whether it’s starting a conversation about recipes or organizing a meeting with local leaders, these steps can help women realize their strength and agency.

To truly fulfil the promise of SHGs, we must go beyond savings and address the other dimensions of empowerment. Facilitators and organizations should actively promote friendship, self-care, and leadership among SHG members. When women begin to see themselves as more than contributors to a savings pool, they can drive transformative change in their communities. In conclusion, the journey of SHGs is as much about breaking barriers as it is about building bridges—bridges of understanding, collaboration, and empowerment. And in the process, we might just discover the immense power of women coming together to create a better world.

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