Entrepreneurial Attributes of Members of Self-Help Groups

ABSTRACT India being a democratic country with welfare orientation has recognized that the best way to tackle poverty and to enable the community to improve its quality of life is through social mobilization of poor especially the women into self-help groups (SHGs). SHGs are the informal groups where members come together toward collective action for a common cause Women in informal groups possessed certain qualities such as fellow-feeling, co-operation, cordiality, sympathy, understanding, leadership etc. among themselves. Attempts have been made to utilise all these potential qualities of the women for promoting their overall status through organising them into groups. .SHGs provides them space so that each of its members can identify and use opportunities for his/ her empowerment and capacity of the SHGs to relate effectively with other institutions. It is therefore imperative that SHGs are promoted in the way that facilitates the development of a participatory and empowering culture. Entrepreneurial attributes are the qualitative improvements in the members of SHGs after adopting income generating activities .The efficacy of the SHGs was studied in terms of enterprising functions viz; economic returns under SGSY and entrepreneurial attributes of group members. Effective group dynamics of SHGs might have resulted in better economic returns from micro-enterprises for livelihood security and developed qualitative improvements in the members of SHGs in the form of entrepreneurial attributes which are highly desirable in the members for becoming successful entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurial attributes as affected by group dynamics was studied and presented. METHODOLOGY District Gurgaon in Haryana was selected as locale for conducting the study. It comprised of two regions viz; Mewat and Non-Mewat .The three blocks one in Mewat(Taoru) and two in Non-Mewat (Pataudi and Gurgaon) were selected for present investigation. The villages of three blocks where the 18 SHGs were physically located were the sampled villages and all the members of these SHGs were the sampled respondents .Therefore, a total of 3 blocks, 18 villages, 18 SHGs and 190 SHG members comprised the sample of the study. These SHGs had obtained finance from Govt .for starting entrepreneurial activities. Duly pre-tested semi-structured interview schedules were used to collect information. The data was coded, tabulated separately for Mewat and NonMewat regions and was analysed region-wise as well as for the total sample. The data was analysed by usin

Consensus dietary guidelines for healthy living and prevention of obesity, the Metabolic syndrome, Diabetes, and related disorders in Asian Indians

India is undergoing rapid nutritional transition, resulting in excess consumption of calories, saturated fats, trans fatty acids, simple sugars, salt and low intake of fiber. Such dietary transition and a sedentary lifestyle have led to an increase in obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases (type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM], cardiovascular disease [CVD], etc.) predominantly in urban, but also in rural areas. In comparison with the previous guidelines, these consensus dietary guidelines include reduction in the intake of carbohydrates, preferential intake of complex carbohydrates and low glycemic index foods, higher intake of fiber, lower intake of saturated fats, optimal ratio of essential fatty acids, reduction in trans fatty acids, slightly higher protein intake, lower intake of salt, and restricted intake of sugar. While these guidelines are applicable to Asian Indians in any geographical setting, they are particularly applicable to those residing in urban and in semi-urban areas. Proper application of these guidelines will help curb the rising "epidemics" of obesity, the metabolic syndrome, hypertension, T2DM, and CVD in Asian Indians