Constructing Social Capital

Self-Help Groups and Rural Women's Development in India

Dados Bibliográficos

ID5877403
AutoresKuntala Lahiri‐dutt (0000-0003-1336-1422, Australian National University, autor correspondente), Gopa Samanta (0000-0003-2856-9947)
Ano2006
Volume44
Fascículo3
Páginas285-295
Data de publicação2006-09-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoGeographical Research (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1745-5863 • E-ISSN: 1745-5871
EditoraWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1745-5871.2006.00390.x
OpenAlexW2153948186
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas28
Referências citadas38

The success of the group approach in rural micro-finance among women has inspired the tendency to look at all networking as essentially good and desirable in rural community development, without acknowledging the entrenched caste, class, ethnic and religious hierarchies that lead to diversities among women. Government schemes designed for poverty alleviation among rural women tend to be influenced by concepts and models that have been successful elsewhere, but do not take into account the diversities of situations at the local level. Internationally popular catchwords are used indiscriminately without questioning how these concepts can work effectively in the specific local context. This paper examines why some 'self-help groups' fail by using the Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA) experience in India. The empirical survey was done over a period of two years in Burdwan, a relatively rich agricultural tract located in eastern India. We argue that whilst the 'group' has inherent benefits, it must never be allowed to become the paradigm in developmental policies for women

Agriculture · Caste · Economic growth · Economics · Ethnic group · Geography · Political science · Poverty · Rural area · Rural development · Social capital · Social science · Sociology · Microfinance and Financial Inclusion · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare · Urban and Rural Development Challenges