Deria, Western Ghats, Karnataka, India; Photo credit: Karim-Aly Kassam
Dr. R. Indira (Principal Investigator) and Professor Kassam (co-Principal Investigator) examined the role of self-help groups (SHG) as not only a strong counter force against exploitative credit delivery systems, but also as an institutional avenue for rural women to mobilize themselves in order to seek better life chances. SHGs in rural India have helped women create and manage powerful civil society institutions making a significant difference to their lives.
Forest, Western Ghats, Karnataka, India; Photo credit: Karim-Aly Kassam
Initially, SHGs functioned primarily as “savings groups”, but over a period of time, these groups demonstrated their abilities for community capacity building. The overall aim of this applied research project, which was carried out in the forest communities of the Western Ghats of Karnataka, India, was identification and strengthening of community-based people’s institutions to affect socio-economic policies and practices. It is in this context that SHGs develop significance as powerful people’s institutions.
Forest, Western Ghats, Karnataka, India; Photo credit: Karim-Aly Kassam
Professor Kassam’s role was to help develop illustrative examples of Canadian case studies that demonstrate best practices for community institutions as well as research and document the human ecological relations in selected forest communities with a view to show the linkages between culture and biological diversity. The project was funded by the Shastri-Indo Canadian Institute and the Canadian International Development Agency.
