The role of Self-Help Groups in strengthening resilience amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: Insights from India.

Self-Help Groups (SHGs), the credit based voluntary groups in India are widely known for their potential to alleviate poverty and empower women. This research article explores a lesser-known theme. It tries to analyze the possibility of utilizing the current SHG model of the Indian Government to build and strengthen resilience of the SHG members in case of an external shock like financial stress, food insecurity, dispute in home for joining SHG, and difficulty to repay loan amidst lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This article also focuses on their coping mechanisms and attitude towards these crises. By utilizing primary data collected from 320 SHG members in one of the aspirational districts in West Bengal, India, the present paper tries to fulfill its objective. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the problems faced by the SHG members by combining both quantitative and qualitative techniques. The findings reveal that from organizing vocational trainings to relaxing loan repayment, SHGs and its women members overcame various adversities with tenacity, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the study findings, it is reasonable to conclude that the current SHG model in India presents a promising avenue for enhancing the resilience of its members in the face of external shocks. Article Highlights: Idiosyncratic stress like financial stress and systemic stress like the COVID-19 pandemic were ranked the top two crises faced by the SHG members. Recognizing financial stress and stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic as the top challenges faced by SHG members implies the need for immediate support (that includes access to financial resources, and assistance in adapting livelihood strategies to withstand external shocks), resilience-building efforts (by providing members with skills to diversify their income sources, creating emergency funds, and fostering community solidarity to collectively address crises), and policy attention (implementing policies that provide targeted assistance, such as social safety nets, healthcare access, and economic stimulus). The SHG members mostly had an active attitude towards the crises faced demonstrating their remarkable resilience and adaptive capacity. This highlights the most dominant role of SHGs in their ability to foster a sense of solidarity and collective problem-solving. Members often share experiences, skills, and resources, which can be invaluable during times of crisis. Additionally, the group dynamic encourages mutual support and encourages members to take proactive steps to address challenges rather than feeling overwhelmed by them. Moreover, participating in SHGs often empowers individuals to develop skills, build confidence, and access resources that enable them to better cope with crises. Thus, it implies the importance of community-based approaches like the SHGs to resilience-building. The primary role of SHGs in strengthening resilience among its members, particularly during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic was preventive measures (organizing COVID awareness programs), followed by promotional measures (organizing vocational trainings) and protective measures (distribution of food grains). By engaging in these preventive, promotional, and protective measures, SHGs bolstered the resilience of their members by equipping them with knowledge, skills, and resources to navigate challenges effectively. Overall, the implication is that SHGs have played a multifaceted role in supporting their members through the COVID-19 crisis, by focusing on prevention, promotion, and protection measures to enhance their resilience and mitigate the adverse effects of the pandemic on their well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]