International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Mupparapu Deepika, RN Yadav, DK Singh, VK Singh and LB Singh

abstract
The Self-Help Group (SHG) model has demonstrated its effectiveness in addressing rural poverty by fostering self-help and empowerment. SHGs facilitated the organization of millions of rural women into communities, enabling them to meet their credit needs and earn a livelihood. Despite the positive outcomes associated with the SHG approach, there are some constraints that challenge their effectiveness. This study aimed to identify these constraints and explore the suggestions provided by SHG women entrepreneurs. Data collection was conducted using a structured interview schedule. The findings of the study revealed that women entrepreneurs of SHGs face significant constraints, including lack of formal education among women, less number of opportunities for selling like local sale, mobile van, marriages/parties and processing, insufficient availability of inputs/raw materials in-time, high transportation costs, no own retail shop for selling, inadequate SHG loan amount sanctioned from the credit institutions/banks, problems in infrastructure development, less number of motivational professional/institutes, unavailability of storage facilities in their local area for storage of products/materials etc. and the suggestions offered included educating and encouraging women, provision of sufficient credit facilities with lowest interest rates through credit institutions, skill oriented trainings, support to set up their own retail shops to sell their products etc.