Research Study on Factors Facilitating Participation of Women in ...

50 Factors Facilitating Participation of Women in Mahatma Gandhi NREGSis not taken up in West Bengal and so many of the respondents are notmembers in federations. Thus, comparision of the women respondents’participation in the former three districts with West Bengal (treating it ascontrol group) could delineate the contribution of SHG, to the phenomenonunder study, ceteris paribus.Table 5.12 : Respondents’ Membership in Any Federation (%)Membership in Federation State TotalAndhra Bihar Kerala WestPradeshBengalNo 31.0 7.5 25.0 98.0 42.1Yes 69.0 92.5 75.0 2.0 57.9Social CapitalThe concept of social capital is currently receiving a lot of attentionfrom development agencies and research institutions. Many define whatsocial capital is and what it does. In fact, it is widely agreed that socialcapital facilitates mutually beneficial collective action. Social capital refersto features of social organisation, such as trust, norms [or reciprocity], andnetworks [of civil engagement], that can improve the efficiency of societyby facilitating coordinated actions [(Putnam, Leonardi and Nanetti (1993)].Social capital is a concept that has significant implications forenhancing the quality, effectiveness and sustainability of rural developmentprogrammes. Social capital would facilitate cooperation and mutuallysupportive relations in communities and would therefore, be a valuablemeans of combating many of the social problems inherent in the societies.Social capital measures the relationship of people within a community andtheir link to the networks.One can definitely see the SHGs emerging as a valuable socialcapital if given the right direction and facilitation by the Self-Help PromotingRS 97