Women’s empowerment through sustainable livelihood opportunities remains a major challenge in rural India. Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have emerged as an effective grassroots mechanism for promoting women’s financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and social empowerment. This study examines the impact of SHG participation on financial liberty, living conditions, and decision-making autonomy among rural women in the Khalikote block of Ganjam district, Odisha, under Mission Shakti initiatives.. The study employs a quantitative research design based on primary data collected from 148 women members of 54 SHGs across 18 villages and 9 panchayats. A structured questionnaire with 154 items was administered using a five-point Likert scale. Three hypotheses were tested relating to improvement in financial condition (≥75%), living conditions (≥80%), and independent decision-making (>70%).The findings reveal a strong positive impact of SHG participation. Among respondents who reported income-related data, 98% experienced improved financial conditions, reflected in higher income, enhanced banking confidence, improved loan repayment capacity, and access to livelihood opportunities. All respondents who reported on living conditions (100%) indicated improvements in housing, consumption patterns, health, education, and household economic contribution. More than 99% of participants reported increased decision-making autonomy and self-confidence, although external social recognition remained limited. The study concludes that SHGs act as powerful instruments of women’s economic and social empowerment in rural Odisha, highlighting the need for strengthened