LEGAL EMPOWERMENT OF RURAL WOMEN: A STUDY ON THE ROLE OF SELF-HELP GROUPS IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Liberation of rural women has become one of the critical factors in enhancing socio-economic development and introducing inclusive growth in India.The literature illustrates a significant shift in the pool of women in terms of resources, rights, and institutional support by establishing self-help groups (SHGs) as community-based groups.In this respect, Self-Help Groups are not just a collection of people but an organized space where women negotiate and mobilize the socio-legal resources.Their overall spirit has been demonstrated to augment the ability of women to attain financial autonomy, increase the decision-making ability, and increase awareness of legal rights.This paper will examine how SHGs have impacted on the socio-economic and legal empowerment of rural women.It records the way SHGs can ensure financial independence, enhance participatory governance, and enhance subtle sense of legal rights in areas as far as domestic violence to property rights and social justice.