A study was taken up among the tribal women in the Nilgiris district mainly to assess the extent of participation of tribal women SHG members in various developmental activities.Kotagiri and Gudalur blocks were selected based on the presence of NGOs specifically working for the tribes. Totally eight SHGs have been randomly selected for the study. This comprises four each from Todas and Kattunayakas. A sample of 10 members from each SHGs have been randomly selected. Thus the total sample size is 80. The results indicated that the overall analysis indicate that majority (55.00%) of the tribal women hadmedium level of participation followed by high and low levels

Karuna Jeba Mary, M.V.

Ravichandran, V.

Sujeetha, T.N.

Journal of Extension Education

English

Journal of Extension EducationVol. 27  No. 1,  2015Participation of Self Help Group Tribal Women in Economicand Social Developmental ActivitiesT.N. Sujeetha1, V.Ravichandran2 and M.V. Karuna Jeba Mary3ABSTRACTA study was taken up among the tribal women in the Nilgiris district mainly to assessthe extent of participation of tribal women SHG members in various developmental activities.Kotagiri and Gudalur blocks were selected based on the presence of NGOs specificallyworking for the tribes. Totally eight SHGs have been randomly selected for the study.This comprises four each from Todas and Kattunayakas. A sample of 10 members fromeach SHGs have been randomly selected. Thus the total sample size is 80. The resultsindicated that the overall analysis indicate that majority (55.00%) of the tribal women hadmedium level of participation followed by high and low levels.1-Ph. D Scholar, Department of Agricultural Extension & Rural Sociology, TNAU,2-Dean, Vanavarayar Institute ofTechnology, Pollachi and 3-Research Associate, Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies, TNAU,Coimbatore.In the tribal society, the tribal women haveadjusted themselves to live a traditional lifestyle in the local environment and followedoccupations based on natural resources.(Arangamallika, 2004). But they face problemsand challenges in getting a sustainablelivelihood and a decent life due toenvironmental degradation and theinterference of outsiders (Yamuna, 2007). Dueto the steps taken by the NGOs, the tribalwomen have begun participating actively inthe functioning of SHGs which in turn hasled to their empowerment and their owncommunity (Wilson et al.,2007). Thus thispaper has revealed in depth the results of theextent of participation of SHG tribal womenin the Nilgiris district.METHODOLOGYNilgiris district of Tamil Nadu waspurposively selected because it is one of thedistricts  where the percentage of tribalpopulation is higher and the tribal SHGs areactively functioning. Kotagiri and Gudalurblocks were selected based on the presence ofNGOs specifically working for the tribes.Among these NGOs, NAWA (Nilgiris AdivasiWelfare Association) of Kotagiri block andCTRD (Centre for Tribal and RuralDevelopment Trust) of Gudalur block werepurposively selected because both the NGOsstrive for the upliftment of the tribalcommunities viz., Paniyas, Kattunayakars,Todas, Irulas, Kotas and Kurumbas. Amongthese tribal communities, Todas andKattunayakars were selected since thesecommunities have more number of womenSHGs engaged in the entrepreneurialactivities. Based on this, a sample of fourSHGs from NAWA and four SHGs from CTRDwere selected. A sample of ten members fromeach SHG was considered for the study. Fromthese eight SHGs, a sample of 80 members5399Participation of Self Help Group Tribal Women in Economicand Social Developmental Activitieswas considered as respondents for the study.FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONParticipation in economicdevelopmental activitiesThe findings related to the participation ineconomic developmental activities is given inTable 1.  It reveals that all the respondentsparticipated in running the commercialventure, participation in the SHG productexhibitions conducted by Government /DRDA, participated in deciding about loanlending to members, purchasing raw materialsfor their commercial venture/ entrepreneurialactivity and for the toda women, helping toget resources from supporting institutions(2.73), deciding about loan lending tomembers (2.7), running the commercialventure (2.70) and purchasing raw materialsfor their commercial venture/ entrepreneurialactivity (2.66) got more mean scores followedby in marketing their produce (2.65) andparticipation in the SHG product exhibitionsconducted by Government / DRDA (2.65).While in the case of kattunayaka women,activities like running the commercial venture(3.13), participation in the SHG productexhibitions conducted by Government / DRDA(2.7), in deciding about loan lending tomembers (2.38) and purchasing raw materialsfrom supporting institutions (2.20) got moremean scores compared to overall mean scoreof 2.18. It is quite interesting to see thatparticipation in marketing activities throughexhibitions organized in the district isrelatively more among all the groups. This isan essential economic activity as the livelihoodof the SHG tribal women depend on themarketing of their products.1. In deciding about loan lending to members 108 2.7 95 2.38 203 2.542. In fixing interest percent for purpose oriented loans 72 1.8 65 1.63 137 1.713. In running the commercial venture 108 2.7 125 3.13 233 2.914. Helping to get resources from supporting institutions 109 2.73 80 2.00 189 2.365. Purchasing raw materials for their commercialventure / entrepreneurial activity 107 2.66 88 2.20 195 2.446. In marketing their produce 106 2.65 68 1.7 174 2.187. Participation in the SHG product exhibitionsconducted by Government / DRDA 106 2.65 108 2.7 214 2.68Overall mean score                2.56               2.18                 2.40Table 1.Participation in Economic Developmental Activities (n=80)Sl.No.Category Todas (n=40) Kattunayakars(n=40)Total (n=80)*TotalscoresMeanscoresTotalscoresMeanscoresTotalscoresMeanscoresJournal of Extension Education5400Participation in social developmentalactivitiesThe responses regarding participation patternof SHG members in social developmentalactivities were collected and are given in Table 2.Most of the tribal women participated inthe village developmental works such asawareness campaign, road maintenance, rainwater harvesting, tree planting and alsomaintaining cleanliness in the temple duringfestivals and functions.(n=80)Table 2.Participation in Social Developmental Activities1. Participation in village developmental works 109 2.72 82 2.05 191 2.392. Participation in social action programmes 106 2.65 71 1.78 177 2.21Overall mean score               2.69               1.92                    2.3Sl.No.Category Todas (n=40) Kattunayakars(n=40)Total (n=80)TotalscoresMeanscoresTotalscoresMeanscoresTotalscoresMeanscoresBased on total and mean scores, todawomen exhibited more participation in bothvillage development programmes (2.72) andparticipation in social action programmes(2.65). Similar is in the case with thekattunayaka women. Due to more inter-tribalcommunication nature, the toda andkattunayaka women would have participatedmore in social and village developmentalactivities compared to their counterparts.The group facilitators of each self helpgroup are observed to have motivated themembers to involve themselves in socialwelfare activities. These factors might be thereason for their high level of participation insocial developmental activities.CONCLUSIONThe tribal women have become well securedin their livelihood status due to theirparticipation in Self Help Groups. If everyeffort taken results in the expected positiveways, the tribal women could visualize andexperience the better side of their lives. Thishas been proved in the study. Once after theintroduction of Self Help Groups, the tribalwomen have begun to actively participate inall spheres of social activities. The incomegeneration before and after participation inSHG showed significant increase. This showstheir empowerment status because of thestimulus SHG. This would be possible byorganizing more entrepreneurial trainingprogrammes to the tribal women.REFERENCESArangamallika. 2004. Economic and PoliticalEmpowerment of Women. The Hindu dt: Mar,25, 2004.Wilson, F., J. Kickul. and D. Marlino. 2007.Gender, Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy, andEntrepreneurial Career Intentions: Implicationsfor Entrepreneurship Education. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 31(3): 387–406.Yamuna, G. 2007. Women Empowerment ThroughSelf-help Groups in Solamadevi Village.Economic Empowerment of Women. NewCentury, New Delhi.

Participation of Self Help Group Tribal Women in Economic and Social Developmental Activities

A study was taken up among the tribal women in the Nilgiris district mainly to assess the extent of participation of tribal women SHG members in various developmental activities.
Kotagiri and Gudalur blocks were selected based on the presence of NGOs specifically working for the tribes. Totally eight SHGs have been randomly selected for the study. This comprises four each from Todas and Kattunayakas. A sample of 10 members from each SHGs have been randomly selected. Thus the total sample size is 80. The results indicated that the overall analysis indicate that majority (55.00%) of the tribal women had
medium level of participation followed by high and low levels

Participation of Self Help Group Tribal Women in Economic and Social Developmental Activities

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