Women, Space, and SHGs: Transforming the Rural Socio-Economic Milieu

Globalisation has been reshaping societies across the world, and with it has come a fresh set of challenges for gender equality — particularly in predominantly rural countries like India. In such settings, Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have quietly become a lifeline for women who find themselves shut out from formal education and employment. For many of these women, SHGs represent the only real pathway out of poverty and dependence. These groups create something invaluable: a space where women can come together, build each other up, pool resources, and start making their own decisions. Through SHGs, women gain access to small loans, pick up practical skills in health, farming, and business, and slowly find the courage to speak up — both at home and in their wider communities. This paper examines the tangible difference SHGs are making in Dighal village, Haryana, drawing on conversations with 50 group members and 30 women who have not joined any group. The findings are grounded in reality and offer real, workable ideas for anyone committed to supporting women-led progress in rural India. The study uses systematic random sampling and keeps its focus firmly on what actually changes in people's lives when they become part of an SHG.