www.theinternationaljournal.org> RJEBS : Volume: 07, Number: 07, May 2018 Page 23 A Study On The Impact Of Shgs On Political Empowermentof Women With Special Reference To Kanyakumari District Dr. K.Vinodha Devi, Assistant Professor, Kristu Jayanti College Bangalore Abstract The World Bank has suggested that empowerment of women should be a key aspect of all social development programs (World Bank, 2001). Trickledowntheory has failed in tackling the problem of gender inequality and reducing poverty in India .Women in general are the most vulnerablegender in Indian society, though their status varies significantly according to their social and ethnic backgrounds. Still they are the most disadvantage group in the Indian culture. Although efforts have been taken to improve the status of women, the constitutional dream of gender equality is miles away from becoming a reality. There are various poverty alleviation programmes that being run by variousdepartments and ministries for the development of women in India. SHG-Bank Linkage programme in one among them. Introduction Micro finance under the SHG-Bank Linkage programme grew at a tremendous pace during the last two decades at the national level. From its very inception, the programme has had major success in the region, while its performance has been poor in the other regions, particularly in the northern, north eastern, central and western region. The southern region, continue to occupy the leading position in the programme in terms of its credit share in credit linked SHGs as well as loan disbursement and outstanding. Scope of the Study The study examines the factors examines the improvement in the political status after joining SHGs. The area of concern isthe impact of SHGs on the different variables which decides the political empowerment of women. Objectives of the Study The present study has been carried out with a primary objective 1) To identify the factor influencing the political empowerment of SHG members in Kanyakumari District. 2) Methodology The study is descriptive in nature pursuing with an aim to analyse the impact of SHGs on political empowerment inKanyakumari District. The analysis is based on primary data collected through semi-structured questionnaire consisting of a mix of factual and attitudinal questions. To analyse the collected data and thereby to draw inference factor analysis was used. The Area of Study Kanyakumari is situated in the southernmost part of the Indian peninsula surrounded by Kerala state in the west and north-west, Tirunelveli district in the north and east, Gulf of Mannar in the south- east, Indian Ocean in the south and Arabian Sea in the south-west. It is the smallest district in Tamil Nadu and has a total area of 1,684 sq km which is 1.295 percent of the total area of the state.