Situational Analysis of Women Self-Help Groups among Maram Tribal Women in Manipur, India

Abstract

Tribes are the most vulnerable groups in the country. One of the reasons attributed to this isthat tribal groups are persons who are still very much attached to traditional beliefs andpractices. Although technological advancement has brought improvement in general, tribalsare not able to fully keep up with the current state of affairs. Their mindset appears to belinked to the past, and in a distinctive manner, to ancestral thoughts and ideas. In this context,tribal women have to face challenges in their lives. With the introduction of variousprogrammes and implementation of schemes for the benefit of women in general andparticularly for tribal women, they are able to move forward to a better future. For women, inparticular for Maram tribal women, programmes, such as self-help groups (SHGs), havehelped them as they have long been denied their basic rights under customary laws andtraditions. The objective of this paper is to analyse the status quo of Maram tribal women inManipur, India. A field study of Maram tribal women was conducted at Maram Centrevillage under Tadubi block, Senapati district in Manipur. This study reveals that awarenesscreation and sensitisation for the cause of literacy and government schemes will enhance theempowerment of Maram tribal women. This process of sustained empowerment of Maramtribal women through SHGs will result in the overall development of the Maram tribal
community in the long run.