Women Empowerment Through Saving and Credit Co-Operative Activities in Pokhara, Nepal

Abstract

Nepalese society is male dominated, female are suppressed and restricted. The social and economic status of women is meager. They are backward compared to male. Women do not believe on conservative ideology if they are given quality education and training. They can advocate for the women's awareness and empowerment; become self-dependent and empowered. This study was carried out in ward number 11 and 12 of Pokhara sub-metropolitan city of Kaski district. The main thrust of the study was to assess the effectiveness, altering gender disparities and socio-economic impacts and changes in the life of the women. To meet the above mentioned objectives, both primary and secondary data were collected and analyzed. Total 109 female members or respondents were interviewed, asked questions and observed. The primary data were collected by using different techniques. Whereas, secondary data were collected from dissertations, books, statistical year books, internet, financial institutions, articles etc. This cooperative has demonstrated that they have been providing the quality service for economic and social development. Within short period of its establishment, it has been successful to collect huge capital from the local people. Women number is more in this cooperative and unique because it is urban based cooperative. This co-operative has helped in women empowerment. It has played a vital role to uplift the qualitative life by providing easy service. But, this cooperative has failed in finding alternatives in reducing unemployment and promoting other much needed skills. It is deemed that programs focusing on women should be launched effectively and in more efficient way in the near future. Free distribution of benefits, encouraging the skill generating trainings, fair and equitable benefit sharing should be implemented for the better mechanism of reducing the poverty and women empowerment. Despite few loopholes of the cooperative, the findings of the study shows good impact of cooperative, such as reduction in gender disparity, increase in participation of women, rising awareness in women, coping the problem, attainment of qualitative life, making them able to speak their mind, rise in confidence (psychological), gaining respect and recognition in the society, playing the role of leadership to educate other women, decision making process, women’s social-economic empowerment, finding the sources of earnings and other activities. To sum up, the management system of this co-operative depicts the participatory democracy of a nation , nevertheless it should be further boosted by providing institutional, technical and moral supports by the government and other institutions and organizations so as to develop well institutionalized financial sector, prone to socio-economic development.