India, March 5 -- In India, women self-help groups have been a source of empowerment, fostering economic independence, social stature & community resilience. Down To Earth delves into 7 exemplary initiatives to illustrate the formidable influence of these village-level alliances

This article is part of a special edition on International Women's Day 2024, published in the March 1-15, 2024, issue of Down To Earth magazine

In a typical Indian village today, one is certain to find groups of women talking about finance. They can be seen sitting under a tree, in an abandoned school building, or in the front yard of a village resident's dilapidated home, holding thick notebooks. "I am a member of an SHG"-self-help group-most women residents of...