Self Help Groups as an Instrument of Socio-Economic change in rural areas of Bhopal.
Women in the Indian perspective constitute a more orthodox and conservative section of society and this has been reflected throughout times immemorial. Therefore, their participation and empowerment in any walk of life are viewed as a sign of progress, particularly in the case of an economic field. The concept of SHGs has been a revolutionary breakthrough in the process of women empowerment and has resulted in their upliftment through elevating their status. Microfinance institution started in India in the 1980s through self-help groups (SHGs) model.Since then women empowerment through SHG (Self Help Group) based microfinance has been central to development agenda in India. Self-help group projects were launched by Government of India, with the financial assistance from IFAD and empower rural poor women through microfinance.This paper is an attempt to know, what is the impact SHGs as an instrument of socio-economic change through women empowerment and poverty eradication in the rural areas of Bhopal, In which microfinance plays a pivotal role.