Indian Journal of Finance and Banking Vol. 5, No. 1; 2021 ISSN 2574-6081 E-ISSN 2574-609X Published by CRIBFB, USA 56 EMPOWERING WOMEN SELF HELP GROUPS THROUGH MICROFINANCE DURING COVID-19: A CASE STUDY OF WOMEN SHG Dr. Richa Sharma Assistant Professor Sharda University, India E-mail: richz2009@gmail.com Dr. Saurabh Mishra Assistant Professor Department of Management Studies Indian Institute of Information Technology Allahabad, India E-mail: saurabhmishra@iiita.ac.in Dr. Shashikant Rai Assistant Professor Department of Management Studies Indian Institute of Information Technology Allahabad, India E-mail: shashikant@iiita.ac.in ABSTRACT The paper describes the mitigating effect of self-help groups in India during and post covid-19 situation. The study examines the potential opportunities and challenges concerning the contextual differences across and within the countries. Self-help group has been important in empowering its members by providing opportunities for livelihood support and income generator during the covid-19 situation. The self-help group played a very important role during the covid- 19 situation as half of the SHG was involved in community awareness and infection prevention activities in their community. The study identifies a potential mechanism through which women's groups may be affected by covid-19 situations. Keywords: SHG, Covid-19, Micro-Finance, Social Development, Local Community. JEL Classification Codes: G21, I3. INTRODUCTION Just like other disasters this too has had hits the vulnerable more and had a differential impact on men and women. Women are more vulnerable than men in various ways which reveals the continuing gender inequality concern especially in the case of the developing world which was also proved during the outbreak of 2014 Ebola and Zika virus of 2015 (Davies & Bennett, 2016).SHG has played a major role across the globe in reducing the challenges of livelihood, especially among women. These groups have been very important in generating income for the mailto:richz2009@gmail.com mailto:saurabhmishra@iiita.ac.in mailto:saurabhmishra@iiita.ac.in https://www.cribfb.com/journal/index.php/ijfb Indian Journal of Finance and Banking Vol. 5, No. 1; 2021 57 vulnerable section of the society during such pandemic situation. The government of India supporting these sections continuously by various schemes such as Day- NRLM under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), which employs around 69 million women under SHG (Tankha, 2012). For the last 15 years mission is working for the livelihood of poor rural women and has been a valuable contributory source during the pandemic time. SHG has contributed holistically towards the engagement of the community for social and economic needs during the outbreak of a pandemic. SHG group which is mostly represented by females is creating awareness among in local community through phone calls, wall painting, pamphlets, and social media. The effort of these SHG has consolidated to work on the issues such as the use of masks, social distancing, and psychosocial issues of migrants, quarantine, mental health, and well-being of elderly people. These SHG has been very important in dealing with the current pandemic situation as thorough their decentralized (Rathod, & Pooja, 2015). These SGH has been very important in dealing with the current pandemic situation as through their decentralized production around 20,000 SHG produced over 19 million masks and 100,000 liters of sanitizer all over India. Due to their production at the local level, it has been delivered to the market without involving huge costs for logistics and transportation. SHG has also initiated work through Vulnerability Reduction Fund or with the support of state governments and local administration especially in Maharashtra Such as Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal (MAVIM)and similar other groups, played a crucial role in combating the socio-economic effect of pandemic (Mengstie, & Singh, 2020; Mahajan & Kamble, 2011).MAVIM has contributed around 11 lakhs Rupees in state government relief fund through running donation campaign at the community level. Jeevika an organization in Bihar has used Information and communication technology to spread awareness and preparedness during the tough time. Many have also used interesting measures in spreading awareness of the pandemic through the number of activities such as wall painting done by Prerna in UP to communicating the message of social distancing. To deal with deprived migrants workers some SHG such as in Jharkhand opened a 24×7 helpline called Didi to provide authentic information to migrant laborers during the evacuation and return process to their hometown. SHG played an important role in financial inclusion in rural areas. During the distressing time, these women SHG were helping with the distribution of pensions by providing door to door services to the remote communities to access their account credit from the DBT scheme. The women's are worst suffered during the tough time but through this SHG they played a very important role by providing safety to the society through the vulnerable social group during the tough time (Llewelyn, 2006) History Micro-financing was introduced in Asian nations within the Eighties as an answer to economic conditions and to empower ladies. Being one of the best schemes for rural credit microfinance store faced a lot of challenges in the rural areas (Rogaly, 1996). Micro-finance may be a style of banking service provided to people who have issues in accessing formal monetary services. The benefit of Microfinance is for those who fall into a low-income group and do not have any financial support in rural areas of the country (Singh, Roy & Pandiya, 2020). In developing countries like Asian nations, monetary services through formal channels don't meet the strain of the agricultural poor, thus micro-finance will facilitates small-scale businesses by providing them larger monetary stability. One of the major initiatives was taken by Kudumbashree, in Kerala in 1998. This female-led community organization of Neighborhood teams (NHGs) brings girls from https://www.cribfb.com/journal/index.php/ijfb Indian Journal of Finance and Banking Vol. 5, No. 1; 2021 58 rural and concrete areas along to fight for his or her rights and helps empower them (Venugopalan, 2014). Earlier micro fiancé anticipated providing credit to poor in semi-urban areas at the subsidized rate of interest through organized financial institutions. The current microfinance system targets rural and urban poor households with more emphasis on women borrowers. The finance for these assets is based on the principles of borrower knows the best. Microfinance creates access to skilled labor through training and education social capital built through representatives by promoting a democratic system enabling poverty reduction. It serves as a tool for liquidity for the poorest in society this helps them in strengthening their consumption pattern and reduces their condition of vulnerabilities. Figure1. The flow of microfinance financial resources Table 1. Lists of Top 7 MFIs S.NO. Name of MFI 1. Arohan Financial Services Pvt Ltd. 2. Disha Microfin Pvt Ltd. 3. Ujjivan Financial Services Ltd. 4. SKDRDP 5. Equity as Micro Finance Ltd. 6. Madura Micro Finance Ltd. 7. Grameen Koota Financial Services Pvt. Ltd https://www.cribfb.com/journal/index.php/ijfb Indian Journal of Finance and Banking Vol. 5, No. 1; 2021 59 Microfinance in India Prof. Mohammad Yunus is a name for microfinance and is known as the father of micro-credit for his research work in the year 1979 when Bangladesh was in a serious condition of famine. On his visit to the Jobra village of Bangladesh Prof. Yunus encountered the problems of poor women who were forced to sell their products at very low prices due to problems of poverty. He helped some poor by providing a small loan which has been denied by the bank due to lack of collateral security against the loan. NABARD in India is a bank especially designed to work for rural and poor people and their upliftment took this idea and started the concept of Micro Finance in India. Women Condition in India Women in India contribute 29% of the labor force, less than the world average which is around 35% in 2004. Most of the women's work goes unpaid as the major contribution is towards unorganized and unprotected sector (Fletcher et al., 2017). Women are less represented in higher educational institutions and organized sectors which also includes the business leader. Women contribute around 40% of the labor force in the Agriculture sector having a meager 9% landholding in India (Nayak & Mahanta, 2009). The formal financial system is also not very welcoming for women. In comparison to 37% of the global average contribution towards GDP, women in India contribute a meager 17%. In addition to these women face great physical insecurity (Balagobei & Aravinthakumar, 2019; Sundari, 2020). Considering the other above factors microfinance can play important role in poverty elevation and women empowerment as the credit system so designed will act as an instrument to bring social and economic and changes in poor women's condition. The formation of a self-help group with microfinance facilities will help in poor women's empowerment and development. These women organizations act as a separate democratic group with the important instrument to change. Self Help Groups: Concepts and Measures SHG is based on the concept of microcredit which is instrumental for changing the condition of poor people. The concept of SHG is a group of people helping each other to achieve the economic and social goal for the betterment of society. SHG occupies a large share in the credit disbursement procedure. SHG playing a very important role in achieving the objective of economic planning which leads to the development of women and hence leads to women empowerment. SHG comprises 10 to 20 women who belong to the same class or category to resolve common problems (Agrawal, 2020). Apart from providing the opportunity of financial independence these SHG also help in the development of thrift and saving among the members. The regular saving is pooled into a fund that is disbursed among the members at an agreeable rate of interest. LITERATURE REVIEW The study reveals that the Self-help group helps in the economics and social development of rural women. It is a group of women who come together to achieve a common goal or objective. The Self-help group has developed confidence and provided continuous support to the poor rural women. The self-help group created many women entrepreneurs at the village level and developed leadership skills among the rural women (Dhakal & Nepal, 2017; Kalu & Attamah, 2021). The government of India through a microfinance scheme has supported these SHG so that it could continue the journey to elevate the poverty in rural areas. It is the SHG that has provided https://www.cribfb.com/journal/index.php/ijfb Indian Journal of Finance and Banking Vol. 5, No. 1; 2021 60 a lot of support in terms of economic and social to the poor women of rural India by providing them a better opportunity to work and earn. SHG is one of the best self-sustain and self-created models for women empowerment (Kumar, 2020). Self-help group has helped the women's to develop and create micro-enterprises in the rural areas of the country. The self Help group has given a new identity to the aural women and created the confidence and environment for the community development program.SHG has been important towards poverty elevation and women empowerment. Women empowerment helps in realizing their identities, power, and potentially in every aspect of life. The fruits of empowerment can only be achieved when women are more confident, self-motivated, and strong and have more values with greater involvement in family matters. A study by Manimekalai and Rajcswari (2001) revealed that the SHG is the platform that created an opportunity for those having un-utilized skill knowledge.SHG act as an important tool for poverty elevation and women empowerment. This empowerment aims to realize identity and power in the very sphere of life. Women empowerment through SHG play an important role towards rural tribal poor especially women in motivating and supporting through these services within and outside such group (Murria, 2020). Vishnuvarthini and Ayyothi (2016) the women associated with SHG are getting more benefits in terms of health and socioeconomic development through the negative effect of SHG is not discussed in detail. SHG also helps in developing and maintaining socio-cultural balance in the country. METHODOLOGY Research Statement The research statement studied is entitled, “Empowering women Self Help Groups through microfinance during Covid-19 A case Study of Women SHG in Meerut District” The present study focuses on the analysis of the performance of women self-help groups in Meerut with the help of mean, standard deviation, percentage, chi-square analysis, and t-test. Research Objectives The broad objectives of the study are as follows:  The impact of microfinance in women empowerment, during Covid-19.  To study the income, expenditure, and savings of the members during Covid-19.  To analyze the performance of independent women SHGs, during Covid-19.  To understand the role of women's Self-help groups in creating employment opportunities and poverty alleviation in Meerut. Scope of the Study The present study has been undertaken to evaluate the performance of female SHGs and their impact on the socio-economic conditions of members during Covid-19 in Meerut District. The study is based on empirical evidence gathered from the selected respondents to study the progress of SHGs in the Meerut District. Further, attention has also been focused on evaluating the performance of sample female SHGs and efforts have been made to examine how far SHGs help in the upliftment of socio-economic conditions of members. Nature of Data and Sources of Data The collection of the data is an essential part of the research. The Primary and secondary data have been collected for the research. The primary data has been collected from the Meerut https://www.cribfb.com/journal/index.php/ijfb Indian Journal of Finance and Banking Vol. 5, No. 1; 2021 61 district. The secondary data has been collected with help of various sources like newspapers, research papers, articles, and magazines and from the website. Sampling Meerut district comprises of twelve blocks viz. Durarara, Hastinapur, Jani, Kharkhoda, Machhara, Mawana, Meerut, Parikshitgarh, Rajpura, information from members Rohtak, Sardhana, Sarurpur. The convenience sampling method was used to select the sample for self- help groups and member respondents. Sampling Size The sample size is adopted as 300 women from female SHGs and 300 men from male SHGs in Meerut District based on the following formula. n = Z2.p.q.N e2 (N – 1) + Z2.p.q……………………………………. (1) Where, n = sample size N = population Z = value of standard variance at 95% confidence level (1.96) p = probability of success (0.5) q = probability of failure (0.5) e = acceptable error 4% of true value [Calculated using the formula e = z. (p.q/n), where z = 1.96] Testing of Hypothesis The study endeavors to examine the association between demographic variables and the socio- economic condition of members, for which the under mentioned hypotheses were framed.  H0: There is no significant relationship between the amount of saving and the amount of loan extended to the members, during Covid-19.  H0: There is no significant relationship between the loan amount and no. of installments, effected during Covid-19.  H0: There is no significant difference between the mean scores of family monthly income, expenses, and savings during Covid-19.  H0: There is no significant impact of the selected demographic variables on employment generation and women empowerment during Covid-19.  H0: There is no significant relationship between demographic variables and the impact of the training program of healthcare products like masks, sanitizers, gloves. DATA ANALYSIS General and Household Information of the Respondents The general and household information of the respondents is carried by using the following parameters: age, gender, category, house ownership, house type, electricity, Telephone/Mobile, sanitation facility, source of drinking water, respondent's education level, and bank account information and frequency of bank transactions. These parameters are the primary data collected for the analysis. https://www.cribfb.com/journal/index.php/ijfb Indian Journal of Finance and Banking Vol. 5, No. 1; 2021 62 Table 2. Age of Respondent S.NO The age group of respondent No. of Respondents Percentage 1. 20-30 age 81 27 2. 31-40 age 140 46.6 3. 41-50 age 53 17.66 4. Above 50 age 26 86.66 Total 300 100 Source: Compiled By Author From Primary Data Survey Education Level of the Respondent The actual education level of the respondent is presented in Table 3 In the tabulation of the primary data we divide education level into four groups- Graduation, up to matriculation, up to primary, and illiterate. Table 3. Education Level S.NO The education level of the respondent No. of Respondents Percentage 1. Graduation 19 6.33 2. 10 th 42 14 3. Primary 128 42.66 4. Illiterate 111 37 Total 300 100 Table 4. Marital Status S.NO Marital status of the respondent No. of Respondents Percentage 1. Married 279 93 2. Unmarried 21 7 3. Total 300 100 https://www.cribfb.com/journal/index.php/ijfb Indian Journal of Finance and Banking Vol. 5, No. 1; 2021 63 Availability of Telephone/Mobile Telephonic Communication has proved a very important and significant role in communication during the lockdown and pandemic period. Since cell phones and related wireless technologies can be used to solve one of the problems, called, literacy, and it would solve the problem of communication and will help in economic development. Mobile communication has bridged the gap of digitalization and has changed the social and economic life in the rural and semi-urban areas during the pandemic. Table 5. Availability of Telephone/Mobile S.NO Variable(Telephone connection) No. of Respondents Percentage 1. Yes 177 59 2. No 123 41 Total 300 100 RESULTS Ho: There is no significant relationship between Savings and loan amount, during Covid-19 The monthly savings cross-tabulation can be seen in and table 5. To find out the relationship between the Amount of Saving and the Amount of loan extended to the members a Chi-square test at 0.05 level of significance was used. Table 6. Amount Borrowed * Monthly Saving Cross Tabulation Factor Calculated chi- square value Degree of freedom p-value Significance level Savings 11.910 4 <0.05 Highly significant It is noted from the above table that the „p‟ value is less than 0.05 and hence the result is highly significant. Ho: There is no significant relationship between the loan amount and no. of installment, during Covid-19 The cross-tabulation between the loan amount and no. of an installment is seen in table 6. To find, A Chi-square test is used to observe the relationship between the loan amount and no. of installment. https://www.cribfb.com/journal/index.php/ijfb Indian Journal of Finance and Banking Vol. 5, No. 1; 2021 64 Table 7. Loan Amount and No. of Installment Cross Tabulation Factor Calculated chi- square value Degree of freedom p-value Significance level Loan amount 52.695 6 <0.05 Highly significant It is noted from the above table that the 'p' value is less than 0.05 and hence the result is highly significant. From the analysis, it is concluded that the null hypothesis is rejected and there is a highly significant association found between the loan amount and no. of installment. Number of Training Programmes Attended Training is the procedure of learning and improving the skill, knowledge, and attitude required for job performance. Training helps in optimum utilization and development of human resources. It boosts the morale of the person by motivation. The group members were given the training to make masks, sanitizers, and gloves for battling against covid-19. Table 8. Number of Training Programmes Attended S.NO No. of Training programs attended No. of Respondents Percentage 1. 1 80 26.66 2. 2-3 154 51.33 3. 4-6 34 11.33 4. Above 6 32 10.66 Total 300 100 Table 9. Impacts of Training Programmes S.NO Impact of Training programs No. of Respondents Percentage 1. Making sanitizers from spirit and alcohol 95 31.66 2. Making DIY face masks 125 41.66 3. Making gloves 38 12.66 4. Other sessions 42 14 Total 300 100 https://www.cribfb.com/journal/index.php/ijfb Indian Journal of Finance and Banking Vol. 5, No. 1; 2021 65 Ho: There is no significant relationship between education level and the impact of the training program on the working efficiency of SHG. Table 10. Association between Impact of Training Programme Attended * Level of Education Factor Calculated chi- square value Degree of freedom p-value Significance level Education Level 6.679 9 >0.05 Not significant From the above table, we can see that the 'p' value is more than 0.05 and the result is not significant. From the analysis, it is concluded that an alternate hypothesis is accepted and there is no significant association found between the impact of training program attended and education level. Employment Generation Microfinance and employment are highly correlated as per the study. Microfinance provides an opportunity for those poor and vulnerable who are deprived of the traditional banking system. Study shows that the microcredit and SHG play a very important role in reducing the unemployment rate. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the self-help group members work very hard to come up with financial obstacles because of financial breakdown in the system, but through consistent efforts and moratorium period granted by the banks, they were able to sustain their livelihood during a pandemic. Ho: Membership experience does not influence employment generation. Employment generation exists as a dependent variable on the independent variable on membership experience. As per the result, p≤ 0.001 and f≥1 (i.e. 12.645) hence from a null hypothesis is rejected which shows a significant impact of membership experience on employment generation. The duration of membership has a positive correlation with employment generation. The membership of SHG has an impact on employment generation and people after joining SHG during Covid-19 believe that they are more oriented towards work to fight their financial shortcomings and started their small ventures by making candles, pickles, masks, sanitizers, etc. Table 11. Employment Generation * Membership Experience N Mean Std. Deviation F P Membership Experience up to 1 year 146 3.70 1.217 1-2 years 106 3.53 1.347 12.645 <.001 2-3 years 48 4.54 .504 Total 300 3.77 1.230 https://www.cribfb.com/journal/index.php/ijfb Indian Journal of Finance and Banking Vol. 5, No. 1; 2021 66 Ho: Age group does not influence employment generation. Age group is the independent factor and employment generation is considered as the dependent factor. To compare the mean scores of various age groups, ANOVA test procedures are applied. It is noted from the result that the 'p' value is more than 0.05 and the F value is more than one (2.495). Hence the result is not significant. From the analysis, it is concluded that an alternate hypothesis is accepted and there is no significant impact of age group on employment generation. There is no significant difference among the mean scores of the age group of SHG members. It is concluded that age group does not have a significant impact on employment generation. Age is not the factor that influences the employment opportunity for women to be a part of SHG. Ho: Marital status does not influence employment generation. It is noted from the result that the 'p' value is less than 0.05 and the F value is more than one (3.247). Hence the result is highly significant. From the analysis, it is concluded that the null hypothesis is rejected and there is a highly significant impact of marital status on employment generation. There is a significant difference among mean scores of the marital status of SHG members. It is the old belief, a man's birth completes when he takes a wife with him'. The study proves that the majorities of the members of SHG are married and are members of SHG and their family supports them to work and become more independent. During a pandemic, both men and women are working hard to earn bread butter for their life. Women Empowerment Ho: Education level does not influence women empowerment It is noted from the above table that the 'p' value is less than 0.05 and the F value is more than one (3.437). Hence the result is highly significant. From the analysis, it is concluded that the null hypothesis is rejected and there is a highly significant impact of the level of education on women empowerment. There is a significant difference among mean scores of the level of education of SHG members. It is concluded that the level of education has a significant impact on women's empowerment. The Educated women can help and guide others in the group and can create the group working more efficiently. Table 12. Education Level Does Not Influence Women Empowerment N Mean Std. Deviation F p Level of education graduation 19 3.32 1.293 3.437 .017 high school 42 2.93 1.386 primary 128 3.51 1.409 illiterate 111 3.72 1.370 Total 300 3.49 1.401 https://www.cribfb.com/journal/index.php/ijfb Indian Journal of Finance and Banking Vol. 5, No. 1; 2021 67 Ho: Marital status does not influence women empowerment Table 13. Marital Status Does Not Influence Women Empowerment N Mean Std. Deviation F p Marital status married 279 3.49 1.404 3.070 <0.001 unmarried 21 3.57 1.399 Total 300 3.49 1.401 The above table shows p ≤ 0.001 and f ≥ 1 (3.070). We can see that the result is highly significant and the null hypothesis is rejected which shows marital status has a high impact on women empowerment. Family Monthly Income, Expenses, and Savings Income is one of the main indicators to measure the standard of living of members. The data regarding income, expenses, and saving of beneficiaries was determined at two points of time i.e. pre and post SHG membership during Covid -19. The Family monthly income, expenses, and savings of the sample women SHGs' Members are analyzed before and after joining SHG in this section. Null Hypothesis: H0: There is no significant difference between the Mean Family monthly income, expenses, and savings before and after joining SHG, during Covid-19. Table 14. Paired Samples Statistics Mean N Std. Deviation Std. Error Mean Pair 1 Income before joining SHG 2037.00 300 413.725 23.886 income after join SHG 2300.10 300 404.469 23.352 Pair 2 Expenses before joining SHG 1722.33 300 391.402 22.598 Expenses after joining SHG 1907.60 300 385.196 22.239 Pair 3 Savings before joining SHG 99.50 300 34.739 2.006 Savings after joining SHG 158.93 300 38.372 2.215 https://www.cribfb.com/journal/index.php/ijfb Indian Journal of Finance and Banking Vol. 5, No. 1; 2021 68 Table 15. Paired Samples Test Paired Differences t df Sig. (2- tailed) Mean Std. Deviat ion Std. Error Mean 95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper Pair 1 income before joining SHG - income after join SHG -263.100 100.57 4 5.807 -274.527 - 251.67 3 - 45. 310 299 .000 Pair 2 expenses before joining SHG - expenses after joining SHG -185.267 53.871 3.110 -191.387 - 179.14 6 - 59. 566 299 .000 Pair 3 savings before joining SHG - savings after joining SHG -59.433 18.197 1.051 -61.501 - 57.366 - 56. 572 299 .000 The Table also shows that the t' statistics, calculated as the ratio of the difference between sample means divided by the standard error of the difference. Since the P-value is less than 0.01, the hypothesis was rejected. Hence there is a highly significant difference in the Mean family income, expenses, and savings after joining the SHG during covid-19. This indicates that there is a significant increase in the Mean Scores of family income, expenses, and savings after joining SHG showing the Economic Empowerment of women SHGs members. FINDINGS AND SUGGESTIONS  Promotion of High Saving Habit In Female SHG It is noticed that more than one-half of the sample respondents of female SHGs have become members for promoting saving habits and inculcating the habit of saving through their surplus income. It indicates that Female SHGs have pervaded the minds of women and thereby inculcated the habit of thrift and savings among rural and urban poor women during a pandemic which has helped them to fight the difficult times in the Meerut district.  Increase In the Family Income of Group Members The study also reveals that there is a significant increase in the mean scores of income, savings, and expenses level of members of female SHG. After joining the group the income level of members is higher and it is shown their sources of income have increased after joining the group. https://www.cribfb.com/journal/index.php/ijfb Indian Journal of Finance and Banking Vol. 5, No. 1; 2021 69  Marital Support The majority of the respondents are married and marriage is support in disguise. Marital status has a significant impact on the life of female members of self-help groups. Married people feel more confident than unmarried ones. Marital status has a highly significant impact on the social aspects of female SHG.  Fighting Spirit During Pandemic Though the stitching and tailoring are not the primary or part of economic activity as for as the SHG is concerned but during the cover pandemic crisis these SHG workers decided to produce the mask so that the shortage of mask in the market can be mitigated.  Communication Empowerment One of the major contributions by the SHG in the district was to make the women be connected by providing them training and information regarding the use of internet technology with help of smart phones. They have been trained on how to make use of social media.  Female SHG Helps to Reduce Poverty and Helps In Women Empowerment After joining the group female members feel more financially empowered and support their family members socially and economically. They feel the sense of pride of being recognized by the public in general as an independent working member supporting her family. Poverty alleviation is higher in Female SHG.  The opinion of Different Training Camps The study found that all the respondents of female SHG underwent a training program to fight against the pandemic. They learned to make health care products some have started a new business from attending the training program and some went on with their traditional business. The new businesses that are undertaken by them include Mask making, herbal disinfectant, and hand washers, coir products, agarbatti, pickles, fancy stores, etc. CONCLUSION In the COVID-19 pandemic, it is implausible to mark the tedious and courageous efforts put in by all the volunteers to meet the essential requirements. The voluntary organizations/individual volunteers or other support agencies are consistently working to reach out to such people with food and other essential commodities. Women's Self-help groups are working extremely great in India and are fighting to meet the daily challenges with full courage, safety, and enthusiasm. Despite the own sufferings, our women are collectively working around the area and taking care of the work with social distancing, making masks, sanitizers, gloves, cooking, and serving hot food to children in the initial days of the lockdown and also the whole pandemic period to sustain their nutrition. Women Self Help Groups are an invaluable resource in these difficult times. Over the past two decagons of the Bank's association, India's SHG movement has developed from micro- savings and credit groups that hunted to empower poor rural females, into one of the world's largest platforms of the poor. Today, 67 million Indian women are active members of 6 million SHGs. The Groups beyond the country are functioning intensely to make up the shortfall of masks and personal protective equipment (PPE). 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