27
below. In Tamil Nadu the average age is 36 while in Karnataka it is 38. It is to be noted
that women as young as 18 and 19 were part of the SHGs and very old women too were
part of the same. It hence seemed as though the SHG movement benefitted women
immaterial of their age. The family size too in both the states is between 4 to 5 members.
As almost all the families we saw were rural it was relieving to note that the family size
on an average was not greater than five. Large family sizes poses extra burden on the
women and this trend points to a shift in demographics from large families with
intergenerational dependence.
Table 5.1: Tamil Nadu - Average age and family size of the SHG members
Mean
Maximum
Minimum
Age
36
64
19
Family Size
4.54
19
1
Table 5.2: Karnataka - Average age and family size of the SHG members
Mean
Maximum
Minimum
Age
38
70
18
Family Size
4.08
9
1
