Self-help groups movement: Indefatigable guide and supporter of rural women empowerment leading to sustainable development.

The present article studies the importance of social, political and economic empowerment of women belonging to self-help groups (SHGs) in achieving sustainable development. The study was conducted in the five districts of Punjab that includes Patiala, Bhatinda, Amritsar, Faridkot and Fazilka. Around 500 respondents were selected to fill the questionnaire comprising 100 respondents from each of the five districts. Data analysis and hypothesis testing have been done using IBM SPSS and AMOS. The results, obtained through structural equation modelling, reveal that women have become more authoritative socially and financially, yet there is still scope for upgrading with respect to political empowerment. Sustainable development can indeed be achieved through empowerment of rural women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]