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The Self-Help Group (SHG) model is a cornerstone of poverty alleviation and gender equity in India, operating as the world’s largest microfinance project, yet its efficacy is challenged in marginalized, conflict-affected regions. This paper presents a case study analysis of the SHG ecosystem in Palamu district, Jharkhand, a region characterized by extreme poverty and institutional fragility, using Kabeer’s framework of Resources, Agency, and Achievements (R-A-A). The analysis synthesizes existing research on institutional metrics and qualitative outcomes. Findings reveal a significant success in cultivating Agency, characterized by robust psychological empowerment, high internal cohesion (97.2% savings linkage), and unexpected resilience in Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) affected villages (Singhal, 2010). However, this success is severely undermined by systemic failures in securing external Resources and sustained Achievements. The primary institutional constraints are identified as the "Palamu Credit Linkage Paradox"—where only 30.4% of savings-linked groups are credit-linked by banks (NABARD, 2019)—and a pervasive market linkage crisis, which the majority of women report as a major difficulty in selling their produce (IRMA/NABARD, 2017). The study concludes that the sustainability of empowerment is critically dependent on addressing these institutional bottlenecks, requiring mandatory banking reforms and guaranteed forward market linkages to convert intrinsic agency into enduring economic achievements.
Keywords:
Women’s Empowerment in Palamu, Kabeer’s Empowerment Framework, Palamu Credit Linkage Paradox, LWE-Affected Microfinance, Women Empowerment
Cite Article:
"Self-Help Groups and Women’s Empowerment in Marginalized Contexts: A Multi-Dimensional Case Study of Palamu District, Jharkhand", International Journal for Research Trends and Innovation (www.ijrti.org), ISSN:2455-2631, Vol.10, Issue 12, page no.b401-b410, December-2025, Available :http://www.ijrti.org/papers/IJRTI2512149.pdf
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2456-3315 | IMPACT FACTOR: 8.14 Calculated By Google Scholar| ESTD YEAR: 2016
An International Scholarly Open Access Journal, Peer-Reviewed, Refereed Journal Impact Factor 8.14 Calculate by Google Scholar and Semantic Scholar | AI-Powered Research Tool, Multidisciplinary, Monthly, Multilanguage Journal Indexing in All Major Database & Metadata, Citation Generator