In India, the advancement and empowerment of women has been a leading objective of state policy ever since the attainment of independence in 1947. Institutions of different types – central, state, and local governments; non-governmental organizations; civil society; and other bodies – are active to ensure gender equality as laid down in the Constitution of India. India's Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012) recognizes women for the first time not just as equal citizens, but as agents of economic and social growth. The Plan's approach to gender equity is based on the recognition that interventions in favor of women must be multi-pronged and that they must be provided with basic entitlements. Self-help Groups (SHGs) have emerged as an effective instrument to promote entrepreneurship and self-confidence among women, particularly in rural areas. This book provides a vivid account of the various measures taken by the government of India for the economic, social, and political empowerment of women. More importantly, it examines the role of SHGs in women's development, thereby envisaging a synthesis of the formal financial system and informal sector.
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