Title: Role of self-help groups and government initiatives on women empowerment in India through bank linkage programs

Authors: Akash Kumar Srivastava; Hari Prapan Sharma

Addresses: Institute of Business Management, GLA University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh – 281406, India ' Institute of Business Management, GLA University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh – 281406, India

Abstract: The study aims to investigate the role of self-help groups (SHGs) and various government initiatives for empowering women in India through bank linkage programs. In recent years, the government of India has been working harder to empower women in India. It has introduced several schemes and promoted SHGs for women's empowerment. The study has collected empirical data from 487 women who benefited from this program or are part of the SHGs to assess the critical factors for empowering women in India using purposive sampling techniques. The findings suggest that social empowerment and poverty reductions are crucial elements of women's empowerment in India. Further, women can be empowered through skilling, education, and equality in India. Providing financial support and empowering them with monetary have less role in women's empowerment in India. Bank linkage programs have contributed a lot in empowering women financially and socially and in poverty reduction.

Keywords: self-help groups; government initiatives; women empowerment; bank linkage programs; poverty reduction.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPMB.2025.144327

International Journal of Process Management and Benchmarking, 2025 Vol.19 No.3, pp.289 - 304

Received: 11 Aug 2023
Accepted: 02 Nov 2023
Published online: 07 Feb 2025 *

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