The World Bank had given emphasis on gender equality for both women and men with a distribution of power and resources. In order to improve economic access among women, the empowerment is one of the key constituent element for poverty allevation. The process of economic empowerment among women can be institutionalized through self help groups. The role played by self help groups in the field of women empowerment is being recognized these days. The SHGs are voluntary association of people formed to attain a collective goal. The members of SHGs are common in respect to social background, heritage, caste or traditional occupation come together for a common cause to raise and manage resources for the benefit of the group members. The SHGs have emerged during the 70’s in Bangladesh and during 90’s in India. Since women throughout the world have been subject to gender discrimination in varying forms and have lesser access to land, property and business. Their mobility is also restricted than men as well as they have limited access to labour markets and are also subjected to discrimination in the matter of wages and compensation for their labour. They also remain under-represented in decision –making and hold less than 10 percent of seats in parliament in most region of the world. Today the SHGs had covered more than 5800 crores poor making it the largest Micro– Finance (MF) programme in the world. The loans reimbursed to the SHGs were usually by the cooperative banks, regional rural banks and commercial (public and private sector) banks. This study was conducted to study the income generating activities taken by SHG members as well as to identify the factors responsible for effective functioning of the SHGs

Keyword: Empowerment; Economic Sec