Self-Help Groups and Women's Leadership in Rural Rajasthan
Self-help groups are among the most powerful platforms for rural women in Rajasthan. They start with small savings, but over time they build something bigger: confidence, voice and leadership.
More than savings
Self-help groups (SHGs) began as small savings and credit groups. Over time they have become platforms where rural women learn to speak in meetings, manage money, deal with banks and take part in local decisions.
The SHG movement in Rajasthan
Under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), Rajasthan runs its programme through Rajeevika. Groups are federated into village organisations and cluster-level federations, giving women a larger collective voice.
How leadership grows
- Rotating roles of president, secretary and treasurer
- Keeping records and handling bank linkages
- Negotiating with buyers, suppliers and officials
- Representing the group in gram sabha and community forums
From groups to enterprises
The next step is livelihoods — dairy, goat rearing, tailoring, food processing and handicrafts. Training, market linkage and access to credit help groups grow into enterprises.
What helps SHG leaders
Mentoring, exposure visits, digital and financial literacy, and recognition of their work help women leaders grow further. Families and communities that support women's time and mobility make the biggest difference.
Maya's takeaway
Every SHG meeting is a small leadership school. When women's groups get training, credit and access to markets, the whole village gains new leaders.
Frequently asked questions
What is Rajeevika?
Rajeevika is the Rajasthan Grameen Aajeevika Vikas Parishad, which implements the rural livelihoods mission in Rajasthan.
Sources
This article is general information and a leadership perspective. It is not legal, financial, tax, medical or investment advice. Please consult a qualified professional for your situation. Facts and figures are taken from the public sources listed above and may change.
Maya Godara
Co-Founder & Managing Director, ATTPL HOLDCO / ATTPL GROUP, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
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