Women Empowerment Through Microfinance (A Case Study of Madhyabindu Municipality

Abstract

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 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 level. 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 Mahila Bachat Tatha Rin Sahakari Sastha (MBTRSS) in Madhyabindu Municipality. Data are analysed by using statistical tools like, (mean, Sd, CV, Z-test, chi-square and percentage analysis). Descriptive research design has used to collect the opinions and to know about behaviour of respondents. The hypothesis test and chi-square test are used to check the economic impact, saving and decision making power as well as women perception toward the microfinance. This study investigates the socio- economic improvement and decision making power of women after involvement in microfinance programs. The results show a positive impact in income, saving and decision making power. 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.