Women Empowerment Through the Microfinance (A Case Study of Pyuthan Municipality, Pyuthan District)

Abstract

Empowerment of women is one of the very important issue in developing countries. As women are the integral part of society, her status and participation in decision making as well as economic and social and political activities is very low. Microfinance plays important role in improving women decision making by contributing in economic activities. Microfinance is powerful tools to self-empower the poor people especially women at world. The main aim of microfinance is empowerment of women. Women empowerment are measured by occupational movement, income level, saving, land holding size, education, and decision about the expenditure on food and clothing, children education, agriculture and mobilizing saving. This study is based on primary data through self-made questionnaire to the women of Pyuthan Municipality, Pyuthan.. Data are analysed by using statistical tools like, (Mean, Standard deviation, Correlation Analysis, Regression analysis). Descriptive research design has used to collect the opinions and to know about behaviour of respondents. This study investigates the household wellbeing, economic empowerment and social and political empowerment and decision making power of women after involvement in microfinance programs. The results show a positive impact in all variable. Further, the study established that microfinance institutions plays a positive role on women who invest in them by increasing their well-being, access to and control their resources., eradicating illiteracy among women, taking part in decision making in their households as well as economic decisions and finally microfinance institution have boosted women's self-esteem. Keywords: microfinance schemes, women empowerment, housed wellbeing, socioeconomic status, political participation.