• Dr. Raghu

The Reserve Bank of India announced in January 2023 that India has surpassed China to become the fifth-greatest economy in the world (India, 2023). The Indian economy's growth trajectory is quite uncertain. For over four decades, the Indian economy adopted protectionist economic policies and embraced the extensive state intervention and economic control characteristic of dirigisme, emulating the Soviet Union. The economy has experienced significant economic disruptions, such as a severe balance of payment crisis in the 1990s. Since liberalization, the Indian economy has recovered and is expanding at approximately 7 percent annually. 70% of India's GDP is derived from domestic consumer expenditure, making it the ninth-largest exporter in the world by 2022. In January 2023, the country's total domestic product was $3.75 billion, making it the world's fifth-largest economy. The International Monetary Fund predicts that India's gross domestic product will be the fourth largest in the world by 2022, at $5.4 trillion, and the third largest by 2027, at $7.4 trillion. India's economy is one of the world's fastest-growing, at about 7% annually. India's economy is one of the world's healthiest due to rising incomes, living standards, and significant changes in consumer preferences, lifestyle, and mentality. A prime example of this vitality is rural India, which has undergone accelerated transformation over the past two decades. In 2017, approximately 69% of India's population and 49% of the country's GDP resided in rural areas. This is why rural India is sometimes referred to as India's "future powerhouse," as it offers enormous opportunities that could contribute $1.8 trillion to India's gross domestic product. It is, therefore, essential to know about rural India. Rural development is essential and for which rural problems needs to be addressed in an appropriate and in time bound manner. According to the “2007 Revision of World Urbanisation Prospects” by the United Nations, India would continue to have the largest rural population in the world until 2050”. (Hindustan Times, 28.2.2018). Hence, these challenges must be dealt with, on a priority basis. Therefore, understanding about Rural India is inevitable. Added to this, women in rural India, still continues to be pathetic. India is a country, where women are worshipped as deities, without whose blessings, work cannot be initiated. On the other hand, crimes against women and girls are increasing day by day. The patriarchal norms are so entrenched in the society that it is very difficult to pull oneself out of this conundrum. Therefore, the concept of women empowerment is still very important in this context. This paper attempts to know, whether improved savings will contributes in women empowerment, which can be witnessed in her increasing consumption expenditure and standard of living.

Women empowerment, Increased savings, Consumption expenditure, changed status

"A STUDY ON IMPROVED SAVINGS AND ITS ROLE IN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN RURAL INDIA: AN SHG WAY", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 6, page no.K664-K671, June-2024, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2406A79.pdf

"A STUDY ON IMPROVED SAVINGS AND ITS ROLE IN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN RURAL INDIA: AN SHG WAY", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 6, page no. ppK664-K671, June-2024, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2406A79.pdf