A STUDY ON IMPACT OF MAHLIR THITTAM IN MADURAI DISTRICT

The role of women in a community is very crucial. Any effort for economic development cannot be successful without the active participation of women because women comprise almost half of the population of our nation. The impact of development has led to widening a empowerment. In Tamil Nadu, the TamilnaduCorporation for Development of Women Ltd has been functioning, bringing about socio economic and political empowerment through various projects.Mahalir Thittam is a socio-economic empowerment programme for women implemented by TamilnaduCorporation for Development of Women Ltd. Mahalir Thittam is based on Self Help Group (SHG) approach and is implemented in partnership with Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Community based organizations.The SHG approach was started in a small way in Dharmapuri district in the year 1989 vide G.O.Ms.No.764, Social Welfare & NMP Dept. dt.1.9.1989 with the assistance of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Later the scheme was extended to the erstwhile Salem and South Arcot districts in the year 1991-1992 and further extended to Madurai and Ramanathapuram in the year 1992-93.Following the success of the IFAD project, Mahalir Thittam project was launched with State Government funding from 1997-1998 vide G.O.Ms.No.292 Social Welfare & NMP Dept. dt. 4.12.1996 and was progressively introduced in all districts of the State.The Self Help Group movement which was started in a small way in Dharmapuri District in the year 1989, has now grown into a mammoth movement covering all districts of the State targeting poor families and the marginalised sections of the societyTNCDW which has been spearheading the SHG movement has brought out qualitative change in the lives of women through its definitive interventions over the last two decades. The programme is implemented in partnership with NGOs and community based organisations which are affiliated with TNCDW after due process. Hence this study is an attempt to analyse the impact of Mahalir Thiitam in Madurai District