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Viewing SHGs as critical Grassroots Information Infrastructure

  • sreenivasanvidyuth
  • Feb 14
  • 3 min read


A key driver of women's economic empowerment is their ability to participate in the digital economy. Internet communication technologies (ICTs), digital platforms, and online marketplaces provide individuals with opportunities to interact, access information, and engage in commerce. Policymakers and technocrats have long advocated for leveraging these digitally mediated spaces to help women increase their incomes.


However, despite these efforts, the adoption of digital technologies remains low among women in low-income households, both in urban and rural areas. Fewer women have access to smartphones and the Internet compared to men. Data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) shows that in 2022, 62% of men used the Internet, compared to only 57% of women. This digital divide is not merely a matter of access but is deeply rooted in structural barriers that limit women's exposure to technology.


Women in media blind spots

Within households, women often have less control over media consumption. Television content is typically chosen by men or children, limiting women's access to informative programming. Additionally, low-income households are less likely to subscribe to newspapers, further restricting women's exposure to critical news and market information.


Gender norms and social structures as barriers to information

Beyond media exclusion, gender norms dictate women's daily lives in ways that restrict their access to information. Women in low-income households often bear the brunt of household responsibilities, leaving little time for social engagement outside the family. In many cases, their movement outside the home is limited to essential errands such as fetching water, firewood, or groceries. Their interactions are largely confined to family members, further isolating them from broader information networks.


Since technology adoption relies on the diffusion of information, this isolation presents a fundamental barrier to women's participation in the digital economy.


So how do women in low-income households receive and share information?

Excluded from traditional media, women rely on informal networks for information. Studies have shown that friends and family serve as their primary sources of news and updates. In-person conversations and phone calls are key channels through which they share and receive information. Messages from trusted social circles often carry more weight than official sources, shaping their decisions and behaviors.


Self-help groups (SHGs) as information networks

Beyond family and friends, self-help groups (SHGs) serve as critical information networks for women. Originally designed to facilitate microlending, SHGs in South Asia have evolved to play a far greater role in women's social and economic lives. These groups:

  • Expand women's social networks

  • Provide solidarity and emotional support

  • Facilitate information exchange

  • Offer access to knowledge beyond official channels


SHGs as Gateways to Technology and Economic Opportunities

SHGs present a significant opportunity to leverage social networks for

  • adoption of technology and

  • creating economic opportunities


Participation in SHGs has been linked to increased knowledge and skills among women. Studies have shown that women in SHGs demonstrate higher competence in using digital tools compared to those who are not part of such groups. Similar research has highlighted the role of SHGs in the adoption of clean cooking technologies, illustrating their effectiveness as conduits for behavioral change.


While digital marketplaces present economic opportunities, they also pose significant barriers. They require formal business registration, tax compliance, digital literacy, and numeracy—challenges that many women in low-income households face.


SHGs offer an alternative by helping women expand their social networks, which in turn creates new economic possibilities. A wider network enables women to tap into opportunities within their communities rather than relying solely on formal digital marketplaces. Additionally, these networks can be sustained and strengthened through ICTs that facilitate both communication and transactions.  


Rethinking Policy Approaches

Rather than focusing exclusively on integrating women into digital marketplaces, policymakers should invest in strengthening and expanding SHGs as grassroots-driven information infrastructures. By fostering interactions between SHGs and leveraging their influence, governments and development organizations can accelerate the diffusion of technology and create more inclusive economic opportunities for women.


Self-help groups are not just microfinance mechanisms; they are powerful social institutions that can bridge the gap between women and the digital economy. If the goal is to truly empower women, the first step is to meet them where they already are—within their social networks.


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