IRJMSH Volume 4 Issue 3 Online ISSN 2277 – 9809
International Research Journal of Management Sociology & Humanities http:www.irjmsh.com Page 868
EFFECTIVENESS OF TRAINING PROGRAM AMONG SHG WOMEN
M.C.Sandhyarani
Research Scholar
Department of Studies in Social Work
University of Mysore
Manasagangothri
Mysore – 570 006
Karnataka, India,
Email: [email protected]
Abstract
The vocational training is essential for women to take up income generation
activities on their own self to earn themselves and to become economically strong. L&T
in collaboration with GUARD, an NGO had conducted training programmes for the SHG
members. Self Help Groups (SHG) are an informal groups where the number of members
in SHGs normally ranges from 10-20. These members have hailed from poor family
background, come together to promote savings among themselves to meet the emergent
needs of their members. This present study intends to study the effectiveness of training
programmes among SHG women. 50 women leaders who are selected as President and
Vice President from 25 SHGs were interviewed. The results found that the vocational
training programme was successful in encouraging women to take up income generating
activities. To conclude the vocational training programme which was provided by the
L&T in collaboration with GUARD was successful in reaching the needs of the SHG
members and making them self reliant.
Key Words: Vocational, Training, Collaboration, Effectiveness.
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INTRODUCTION
Self Help Groups are usually informal groups whose members have a common
perception of need and importance towards collective action. These groups promote
savings among members and use the pooled resources to meet the emergent needs of their
members including the consumption needs. The number of members in SHGs normally
ranges from 10-20. It is expected that, within the groups, there should be true democratic
culture in which all the members must participate actively in the decision-making process
by taking part in the discussions. Though cohesiveness among the members would be
increased due to homogeneity of the groups in terms of education, occupation, income
distribution, sex composition, but in long term stability of SHGs depends on their
member‟s loyalty to it and the adequacy of SHGs to meet the growing needs of the
members. It is obvious that collective work, leadership with fixed tenure, mutual trusts
and co-operative philosophy would be the driving force for SHG. One of the basic
objectives of SHG is to develop saving capability among the poorest sections of the
society, which in turn would reduce dependency on financial institutions and develop self
reliance. Self help group can play a vital role in creating economic self-reliance of rural
poor by meeting consumption and production credit needs as and when they arise. This
will prevent exploitation of the poorer sections from non institutional credit sources.
Development of group dynamics, building leadership quality to realize their potentiality
and self-belief are possible through self help groups (Das, 2003). Self Help Groups have
the qualities and facilities of a „money lender‟ a „development banker‟, „a co-operative
and a „voluntary agency‟ (Das, 1995).
Self help emanates when it is advantageous for individuals to come together. The
genesis of self-help groups in India seems to have evolved in “mutual aid” approach of
Indian country, as manifested in sharing of water, irrigation and bullock on “self help
basis”. In the west also people will participate in collective action when they are
organized in small groups when the expected private benefits from the collective action
exceed private costs of participation (Kullar and Birdar, 2000).
Concept of Self Help Group
IRJMSH Volume 4 Issue 3 Online ISSN 2277 – 9809
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The self help group is an association of people belonging to similar socio-
economic characteristics, residing in the same locality. It is a voluntary group valuing
personal interactions and mutual aid as a means of altering or ameliorating problems
perceived as alterable, pressing and personal by most of its participants (Smith, David
Horton and Karl Pillhemer, 1992). They are voluntary associations of people formed to
attain some common goals. These are groups, which have similar social identity, heritage
occupations and come together for a common cause and manage resources for the benefit
of the group members.
The concept of SHG is a voluntarily formed group, the member size being 10-20.
The group is basically homogenous in nature. They come together for addressing their
common problems. They are encouraged to save on a regular basis (Das, 2004). SHG as
a homogenous group of poor, voluntarily formed to save whatever amount they can
conveniently save out of their earnings and mutually agree to contribute to a common
fund of the group to be lent to the members for meeting their production and credit needs
(Tripathy, 2003).
Training Program (L&T - CSR Program)
Larson & Turbo (L & T) Private Company Limited, Mysore, one of the renowned
industry in Mysore city, encourages women empowerment through CSR activities by
providing free training courses for the women members in the SHGs. L&T has tied up
with an NGO which is working for the community development namely GUARD (Group
of Urban & Rural Development). GUARD is a Non-Governmental Organization
encourages the development of Self Help Groups in urban, rural & slum areas of Mysore
city. Hence under CSR activity L&T has provided free vocational training courses for
the women members of Self Help Groups for about a period of 6months to one year.
L&T believes that empowered women are the nucleus of an empowered society.
To promote self-reliance, company offers for socially disadvantaged women with skill-
training and start-up kits which helps them to find employment and enables for income
generation. The vocational training programme helps individual to become a self-
employed and thus can earn his/her livelihood. Some of the vocational training
IRJMSH Volume 4 Issue 3 Online ISSN 2277 – 9809
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programme in which the women SHG members have received were, tailoring,
embroidery, beautician, computer education, DTP training, candle making, agarbati
making, food processing etc.
L&T believes in “Empowerment of women constitutes the empowerment of the
entire community.” Empowering women with skills enables them to become self-
sufficient and make a significant economic impact on the well-being of their families,
communities and to our nation.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Aim
The aim is to study the effectiveness of training programme among SHG women group.
Objectives of the Study
To know the socio-demographic profile of the SHG women.
To study the different training programmes conducted to the SHG women
To find out the effectiveness of training program.
Universe and Sampling
L&T has provided vocational training programme to the SHG women members in
collaboration with GUARD an NGO. Nearly 300 women members were covered under
this vocational training programme. Among them who have successfully completed the
programme were selected for the study i.e., 50 women leaders who are elected as
President and Vice President were interviewed from 25 SHG group. A self structured
interview schedule was prepared to collect the primary data from the respondents.
Research Design
Research design is of Descriptive one. Descriptive Research Design is used to
describe the types of training programme undergone and explore the effectiveness of
training program conducted by the L&T to the SHG members.
IRJMSH Volume 4 Issue 3 Online ISSN 2277 – 9809
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Results and Discussion
Table No.1 Socio –demographic Details
Socio-demographic details N = 50 (Percent)
Age group 18 -28yrs 23 (46)
29 – 38yrs 20 (40)
30 - 48 yrs 07 (14)
Educational status SSLC 32 (64)
ITI/ Diploma 04 (8)
PUC 09 (18)
BA 03 (6)
MA 02 (4)
Marital status Married 36 (72)
Unmarried 11 (22)
Widow 03 (6)
Occupation Not working 35 (70)
Self employed 6 (12)
Employed 5 (10)
Student 4 (8)
________________________________________________________________________________
The results shows that the SHGs have paved way for the women‟s group coming
together and making use of the resources. The SHGs have encouraged all age group of
women from their respective communities to become the member of Self Help Group.
Certainly the result shows that younger ages between 18 – 28 years of women group have
become members of SHG have undergone vocational training programme. A high
percent of respondents were having a minimum qualification as SSLC (64 percent) and a
very less percent of respondents i.e., four percent (2) were post graduates. A majority of
respondents were married (72 percent), 70 percent (35) respondents‟ are not working and
only eight percent (4) are students.
Table No. 2 Duration & Year of Joining
________________________________________________________________________
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Duration of the training programme N = 50 (Percent)
Year of joining 2008 -10 10 (20)
2010-12 40 (80)
Duration 1 to 3 months 7 (14)
4 to 6 months 43 (86)
___________________________________________________________________________________
The table indicates the duration and year of joining to the training programme.
Out of 50, 80 percent respondents (40) have undergone training programme during 2010-
12 and 20 percent (10) respondents between 2008-10, with duration of 4 to 6 months 86
percent (43) respondents and 1 to 3 months by 14 percent (7) respondents.
Table No. 3 Overall Satisfaction of the Training Programme
___________________________________________________________________________________
Satisfaction on the training programme N = 50 (Percent)
Satisfaction with the training programme Yes 48 (96)
No 2 (4)
Satisfaction with the Duration Yes 45 (90)
No 5 (10)
Satisfaction with the training method Yes 47 (94)
No 3 (6)
Self employed Yes 42 (84)
No response 08 (16)
______________________________________________________________________________________
IRJMSH Volume 4 Issue 3 Online ISSN 2277 – 9809
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Satisfaction is found to be one of the important components to get sustained in the
trained field. The above table reveals the opinion on the satisfaction of the training
programme received. As much as 96 percent (48) respondents were satisfied with the
training & four percent (2) respondents are not satisfied with the training that they have
received. With regard to the duration 90 percent (45) respondents have satisfied and 10
percent (5) expressed to have few more days to get trained well. But it did not happen.
Most of the respondents i.e., 94 percent (47) have got satisfaction on the training method
wherein, six (3) percent were not satisfied with the training method. After successfully
getting trained a majority of 84 percent (42) respondents have become self employed and
16 percent (8) could not sustain in it.
Graph No.1 Type of Training Programme Received
In the above graph different type of training programme received by the SHG
members is shown. An equal number of respondents i.e., 30 percent (15) have received
training in tailoring and beautician course respectively. A few of 12 percent (6)
respondent trained in Agarbathi making, 10 percent (5) in Zari work, eight percent (4)
have undergone training in fashion designing, six percent (3) respondents have got
training in candle making, four percent (2) respondents have received training in Fabric
painting.
Graph No.2 Type of Self Employment Engaged
Tailoring
30%
Beautician
30%Candle Making
6%
Agarbathi
Making
12%
Zari Work
10%
Fabric Painting
4%Fashion
Designing
8%
IRJMSH Volume 4 Issue 3 Online ISSN 2277 – 9809
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After the successful completion of the training programme a major population
have started their own self employment which is shown in the above graph that 30
percent (15) respondents are engaged in tailoring, 26 percent (13) respondents are
working as beauticians, 16 percent (8) are engaged in designing work for clothes, six
percent (3) respondents are engaged as fabric painting trainer, four percent (2)
respondents self employed in candle making, two percent (1) respondents occupied in
Agarbathi making respectively. There are respondents who have undergone training and
could not taken up any kind of self employment i.e., 16 percent (8).
Table No. 4 Overall opinion on the Training Programme ____________________________________________________________________________________
N = 50 (Percent)
Reasons for Non-engaging
Self employment Non- availability of support 02 (25)
No Interest 02 (25)
Less profit 04 (50)
Expectation of few more
Training programme Yes 10 (20)
No 40 (80)
Type of training programme
Expected Computer training 06 (60)
Embroidery 01 (10)
Screen printing 03 (30)
Increased confidence level
After receiving the training Yes 48 (96)
30%
26%16%4%
2% 6% 16%
Tailoring Beautician Designer
Candle making Agarbathi making Fabric painting trainer
None
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No 02 (4)
______________________________________________________________________________________
The above table clearly mentions that eight respondents are not employed even
after receiving the training. The reason for non – engaging in self employment is non-
availability of support (25 percent), no interest (25 percent) towards taking up self
employment, and the remaining 50 percent (4) respondents opined that less profit is the
reason for non-engaging in self employment.
The above table gives a glimpse of expectation of few more training programmes
among respondents. Among the total 20 percent (10) respondents are expecting certain
training programme and 80 percent (40) respondents not responded to it. The type of
training programme expected were computer training (60percent), embroidery training 10
percent and the remaining 30 percent (3) are expecting screen printing training program.
The above table indicates that 96 percent respondents agreed that their self
confidence level has increased after receiving the training & the remaining four percent
respondents‟ self confidence level has not increased even after receiving the programme.
Discussion
From the study it is found that, majority of the respondents fall in the age group of 18-
28 years i.e., 46 percent respondents and more than half of (64 percent) respondents have
completed SSLC and among the total nearly 72 percent respondents were married. A
high proportion of the respondents have joined the training programme during the year
2010-12. Nearly 86 percent respondents have under gone the training programme for a
period of 4 to 6 months in their respective fields. An equal percent (30) of respondents
have trained in tailoring and beautician course respectively. Nearly 96 percent were
satisfied with the training, duration of training (90 percent) and 94 percent with the
training method. As much as 84 percent respondents are self employed after receiving
the programme. Nearly 96 percent respondents‟ agreed to have increased in their
confidence level.
Emphasis has to be given to the beneficiaries who are interested to take up the
training program. After the training programme follow up has to be taken up to motivate
IRJMSH Volume 4 Issue 3 Online ISSN 2277 – 9809
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them to become self employed. Timely encouragement, guidance has to be given during
training hours to develop the confidence level of the participants.
Conclusion
Business entrepreneurs have taken initiatives through providing free vocational
training programmes where women economic empowerment is seen as social
responsibility. Hence Larson & Toubro, Mysore conducts training programmes as
Corporate Social Responsibility for economically marginalized women in collaboration
with GUARD (Group for Urban and Rural Development). The training programme has
become effective in bringing SHG women self employed and brought confidence in
them. SHGs have made significant contribution towards women‟s‟ empowerment
generally and economic empowerment particularly. This tremendous change had brought
her efficient and self reliant in the society.
References:
1. Das, Gupta, R., (1995): Self Help Groups: Role of Central Banking Authority,
NABARD, Mumbai.
2. Das, Rimjhim, Mousmi., (2004): A Rural Credit Scenario in India: Self Help
Groups Empowering Rural Poor: Journal on Rural Development, 52 (4): 29.
3. Das, Sabyasachi., (2003): Self Help Groups and Micro Credit: Synergic
Integration, Kurukshetra, 51 (10): 25-28.
4. Kullur, M.S., & Biradar, A.A., (2000): The New Paradigm of Micro Finance; The
Role of Non Governmental Voluntary Agencies in its Promotion; A Few
Reflection, In Kanta Prasad (ed.), NGOs and Socio Economic Development -
Opportunities, Deep and Deep Publication, New Delhi.
5. Smith., David., Horton., Karl, Pillhemer., (1992): Self Help Groups as Social
Movement Organizations - Social Structure and Social Change Research in
Social Movement: Conflict and Change, Sage Publication.
6. Tripathy, Om, Prakash., (2003): Making Insurance Everybody‟s Business – The
SHG way, Kurukshetra, 51 (4): 41.