International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering, Management & Applied Science (IJLTEMAS) Volume V, Issue VII, July 2016 | ISSN 2278-2540 www.ijltemas.in Page 34 Performance of Woman Self Help Groups Dr. C. S. Dalvi, Smita Shrivastav 1 CSIBER, Kolhapur 2 St. Xavier’s College, Goa Abstract: - ‘Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana’ was launched by the Government of India from April, 1999. It was a holistic programme covering all aspects of self-employment such as organization of the poor into Self Help Groups(SHGs), training, credit, technology, infrastructure and marketing. Keywords: - WSHG, SGSY, Woman Empowerment, Economic Upliftment, Poverty. I. INTRODUCTION mprovement in any form, of any aspect calls for a reality check of the existing ground reality. This is imperative to lend the right direction for the future course of concerted action. Microfinance‖ refers to provision of financial services—loans, savings, insurance, or transfer services—to low-income households. Its benefits are improving livelihoods, reducing vulnerability, and fostering social as well as economic empowerment. microfinance programs have generally targeted women as their clients. Women have are been found to be more financially responsible with higher repayment rates than men. Also it has been shown that women are more likely than men to invest increased income from microenterprises in the household and family well-being. Most importantly, access to financial services can empower women to become more confident, more assertive, more likely to participate in family and community decisions, and better able to confront systemic gender inequities. However, empowerment is by no means automatic—gender-related issues are complex. Microfinance programs from different regions of the world report increasing decision-making roles of women clients. SGSY was launched in the state of Goa on1.4.1999. There is a felt need to assess the status of its implementation and functioning. A proper detailed evaluation of whether the scheme guidelines were followed in constituting the SHGs, whether their day to day working adheres to stipulated dos and don‘ts, to what extent have the women members benefitted economically, are they socially and politically empowered, have the panchayats ,DRDA and banks dispensed their roles judiciously and importantly, what are the problems ,if any, these SHGs and their members are facing ? Answering these questions is of paramount importance. This is precisely what this study intends to accomplish. The groups taken up for study were exclusively all- women groups. II. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The following were the objectives with respect to implementation of SGSY in the state of Goa: A. To study the nature of economic activities undertaken by WSHGs/SHGs under SGSY. B. To evaluate the impact of economic activities undertaken on the social status of WSHG members. C. To assess the role of capacity building in the success of SGSY. D. To suggest measures for the effective implementation of SGSY. III. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY A. Primary Data Collection: Primary data has been collected from WSHG members by using the survey method. Personal interviewing technique was used wherein field researchers administered structured questionnaire to the respondents. B. Hypothesis : Monthly Earnings and the social uplift aspects are associated. C. Sampling Technique and Sample Size: The researcher has adopted stratified random sampling. . At the time the research proposal was made , the state of Goa had 11 talukas ( now there are 12). So it was decided that from each taluka ,self help groups would be selected so as to get an all Goa representation. Thus at the first stage the researcher has used ‗stratified sampling‘. As on 31.3.2008, the total number of Women Self Help Groups(WSHGs) under Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana(SGSY) in the state of Goa were 645(six hundred and forty five) with a total membership of 5,409. Talukawise sample selected proportionately. During the course of the survey 500 members were selected. D. Secondary Data Collection: Secondary data used comprises taluka wise SGSY records maintained by the Rural Development Agency(RDA), Government of Goa, annual reports of Ministry of Rural Development, various publications of state, central, I