Women Empowerment through Women Cooperative ( A Case Study of Women Saving and Credit Cooperative with Cent-Percent Household Coverage in VDC-Jijodamandu,Doti)

Abstract

Jijodamandau, is one of the VDC in Nepal where 689 women from cent-percent household are affiliated to a single women cooperative of VDC named Ramashram Mahila Saving and Credit Cooperative. Among them 103 members are from Dalit community, 347 from Brahmi and rest of 239 from Chhetry communities. 60 married cooperative members out of 153 members of ward number 1 of Jijodamandau VDC have been sampled for the study. The respondents have been selected using purposive sampling. Applying exploratory and descriptive research design, socio-economic statuses of women, interventions for empowerment and level of empowerment have been analyzed. Both qualitative and quantitative data have been received. Similarly, primary and secondary data have been used. The quantitative data received from the study have been analyzed using different tables and charts. The cooperatives have been popular within a short period among the poor people. This study attempted to see the lives of poor rural women who were involved as beneficiaries in the Sahakari Institution. The co-operative cares for the credit needs of the poor women in rural areas. This study has mainly focused on identifying the status of empowered poor women of rural areas through micro finance program and other activities of co-operative. Regarding the ethnicity of the respondents, 21.66% were Dalit and 46.66% were from the Brahmin community. Similarly, 80% of them were literate or with higher education. Regarding the family structure, 73.33% households have nuclear family. Almost 42% of the households found facility of toilet and drinking water at home; 68.33% respondents go to private clinic for the treatment. Similarly, 96.67% of respondents have been found satisfied with cooperative activities. 36.67% women had joined co-operative before a year with the objective of regular saving by 56.67% and 30% for taking loan in need. 75% had taken loan, only 6.67% had taken for family purpose. Cent-percent women have returned loan to the cooperative on the scheduled time. The women have been provided the training on institutional capacity development, skill development, awareness raising and finance management. 53.33% of the women members in the cooperative have been trained. 75% of trained members have realized being empowered whereas 3.12% are not satisfied. 95% women found involving in income generation activities after joining in the cooperative. 26.67% of women's economic status improved radically after joining co-operative whereas 41.67% respondents' economic status is being well. 60% of them are free to use their income or saving which is also the change in decision-making power. Now, 83.3% of respondents involved in community discussion after joining co-operative but only 16.7% used to involve in discussion before joining co- operative.

By the involvement in the cooperative, the women have become self-confident. Their decision making power observed increasing. There was a great change in their perspective, attitude, authority, prestige, knowledge, ability awareness and social relationship. The participation of various ethnic and caste groups in the program had established a good harmony and cooperation among all the beneficiaries and the staffs of cooperative. However, all the women had not progressed at the same level as the women from nuclear family were much empowered compared to the women from extended families. It is recommended that the training should be provided to the needy one developing criteria for the selection. The cooperative should encourage women from low economic level for income generating programs. It should be better to conduct more training on capacity building, finance management and skill development. The illiterate women should be provided literacy classes linking with entrepreneurship development. Vegetable farming including goat and pig rising has abundant scope for enhancing income of the group members. At finally yet importantly, it is recommended that the women should be provided the opportunity for involving in the exposure by which the women realize the external environment.