Socio Economic Status of SHG members: A study in Ranapur block of Odisha

India is a country that celebrates diversity and culture. The country has its soul resting in the villages, as 70% of the Indian population is concentrated in rural areas. That is why to prosper into a developed country, the rural areas must be developed and to develop the condition of rural area, the condition of the women in that area has to be improved. In recent years, the Self-help Groups (SHGs) have mobilised millions of rural women, provided them with income generating opportunities, and promoted self-help among them. In the poverty-stricken state of Odisha, SHG movement is gaining momentum and the present study was undertaken to understand the socio economic conditions of the SHG members. The sample size was 400, covering all 34 grampanchayats of the Ranapur block. Among the findings, the prominent ones were that majority of the respondents were in the age group 40-50 years(43.2%), Hindu(99.5%), OBC(56%), married(91.5%) and were illiterate (26%). Majority of the respondents (53.8%) were from upper lower category having monthly per capita income (MCPI) 938-1875 rupees.