This study on “ Empowerment of rural women through Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal â€ was undertaken in 12 villages of Nagpur district of Maharashtra State, with sample size of 120 women respondents who were randomly selected from the list of MAVIM SHGs. The data were collected on personal, socio-economic and situational characteristics as independent variables and empowerment of rural women as effect of MAVIM activities. The distributional analysis pertaining to age of MAVIM women members indicated that above one third of (40.00%) respondents belonged to middle-age group. It was found that majority of women respondents (29.16%) were educated up to junior college, while 43.33 per cent of them belongs to OPEN caste category followed by 36.66 per cent of women respondents in OBC caste category. Above three fourth of women respondents (85.00%) had nuclear type of family and nearly three fifth of them (68.33%) had medium size of family. Over half of the women respondents (56.66%) were engaged in farming as their main occupation. The two fifth (45.00%) of respondents had marginal land holding. (44.16%) and had family income category of Rs.100000 to 150000. Majority of respondents (65.00%) had social participation in more than one organization and 83.33 per cent had medium level of extension participation. Mean empowerment index of psychological, cultural, social, economical and political empowerment of rural women in total was increased from 26.76 per cent before participation in MAVIM activities to 73.91 per cent after the participation in MAVIM activities this indicate highly significant difference.

Keyword: Empowerment; Impact; MAVIM activities;