Empowerment, Obligation or Exploitation? Examining the role of Self Help Group members in the implementation of government Schemes

Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in India have transitioned from simple credit-based collectives into primary vehicles for government scheme implementation . While SHGs are recognised as tools for women's empowerment, there is a growing trend of using SHG members as state agents, where women's workload is not taken into consideration. The objective of this qualitative field project is to understand activities SHG members engage in beyond credit and examine how they negotiate household responsibilities alongside scheme delivery. The objective is to understand whether this participation in SHG and related activities is perceived by women as empowerment, obligation, or exploitation .