Women Self Help Groups (WSHGs): A Change Agent for Socio-economic Development in Soreng District, Sikkim, India

Women Self Help Groups (WSHGs), now become one of the crucial instruments for microfinance in the area/locality so as to use for earning activities and solving common problems. In rural area, microfinance is also considered to be an instrumental tool for financing small scale business activities. The main purpose is to providing the financial support and services to poor people, upgrade of standard of living and empower to the rural women. WSHG can generates income and saving in the rural area. This paper focused into how WSHGs contribution towards the society and development of rural women in Sikkim. The development of rural women in terms of socio-economic development of their family, income, expenditure, saving etc. With the help of amenities provided by the government in order to increase their economic activities for development of society, state and nation also. It also examines the socio-economic status, the changes in the level of income, expenditure and saving before and after joining the WSHGs and the problems faced by the WSHGs’ members. Primary data collected from Chakung village under Chumbong-Chakung block of Soreng District of West Sikkim. The sample size is considered for the study is 112 respondents from selected village. The descriptive and inferential statistics has been used for analyzing the data. In this study, frequency table’s chart was also used. In order to testing the hypotheses, chi-square and descriptive statistics were used. The findings indicate that demographic and social-economic status of the respondents have indicated positive sign and favourable for the rural development in the study area. Therefore, there is change in economic conditions after joining the WSHGs. The average monthly household income and saving of respondents has increased after joining the WSHGs in the West Sikkim. The key role of WSHG is too self-reliant in the area/locality. So, that they can used their local resources and generating income for their development of society as well as nation also