Women’s Economic Empowerment and Welfare Outcomes: A Comparative Study of Urban and Rural Self-Help Group

• Dr. Ramija Bee Abdul Basheer

  Research Associate, Dept. of Women’s Studies, Bharathidasan University, Trichy, INDIA

  लेखक

Women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have emerged as powerful community-based institutions that facilitate financial inclusion, livelihood enhancement, and improved welfare outcomes across diverse socio-economic contexts. This study provides a comparative analysis of urban and rural SHG ecosystems to evaluate differences in women’s economic empowerment, decision-making autonomy, income generation, and social well-being. Using a mixedmethod approach involving surveys, interviews, and administrative data from SHG federations, the research assesses how contextual factors—market access, skill development opportunities, digital literacy, and institutional support—shape SHG performance. Findings reveal that although rural SHGs demonstrate strong social cohesion and collective action, urban SHGs outperform in income diversification and enterprise growth due to better exposure to markets and training infrastructure. The paper concludes with actionable strategies to strengthen both urban and rural SHG models for sustainable women-led development.

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