A pragmatic assessment on the impact of women SHGs in gender mainstreaming was embarked on the fish fertilizer production units operating at Engandiyoor of Thrissur district and Munambam of Ernakulam district in Kerala. The extent of empowerment, performance level, gender characteristics and economic feasibility analysis were assessed out based on socio-economic surveys and personal interviews using structured data gathering protocols. Empowerment Index was quantified based on eight relevant dimensions constituting it. The male and female counterparts of the families were separately interviewed to assess the gender mainstreaming aspects in terms of equity and equality to access to resources, participation profile, decision making, gender need analysis etc. Though most activities are female-dominated, the male counterparts also have a convinced role in decision-making, arrangement of raw materials and fish waste, transportation of the product, etc. The Scales of Performance ‘Assessment’ and ‘Empowerment Index’ developed have the upright potential for future use in other key areas on a sustainable basis. Lacunae identified in the Empowerment Index computation give feedback to proceed in the right direction and follow appropriate changes in the maneuver of the microenterprise. The identified interrelationships between the variables can act as catalytic points for group action on a sustainable basis. The indicative economics worked out advocates  that the unit takes just one year to break even, which shows the cost-effectiveness of the enterprise. A success case study documented as a video documentary can be used as a prototypical manual for promoting group action for mobilizing SHGs on a sustainable basis.

Gender mainstreaming, self help group, empowerment index, performance level