Constraints faced by self help group members of Kupwara District, Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract

Self Help Groups (SHGs) are informal associations of individuals who unite to address shared socio-economic challenges and enhance their living standards. These groups typically consist of members from similar economic backgrounds who regularly contribute small savings into a common fund. This pooled resource acts as a critical tool for supporting self-employment initiatives and improving livelihoods. The present study aimed to analyze the profile of SHG members and identify the key constraints affecting their participation in agricultural decision-making. The results revealed that a majority (74.29%) of SHG members were aged between 22 to 40 years, possessed medium access to information sources (14-18), had family sizes ranging from 5 to 8 members, and 26.42% were graduates or above. Most were marginal farmers owning less than 1 hectare of land, with family incomes between rupees 64,901 and rupees 2,82,202 per annum. A large proportion of SHG members had no membership in other organizations. Decision-making abilities among members were found to be moderate (11-25), and notably, the majority had not received any formal training. These findings indicate the necessity for structured training programs, organizational linkages, and capacity-building initiatives to strengthen the role and effectiveness of SHGs in rural development.