Women Participation and Empowerment through Micro-finance Program: A Case Study of Daunnedevi VDC, Nawalparasi District, Nepal
Date
2015-09
Authors
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Publisher
Central Department of Rural Development Tribhuwan University,Kathmandu
Abstract
This research paper explores the impacts of micro-finance to empowering women in
the study area. The main purpose of this study is found out the participation of women
in micro-finance program. Similarly, it tried to analyze the role of micro-finance to
empowering women as well as to examine the status of women after joining in
microfinance program in Daunnedevi VDC. There are many women in Nepal
especially in rural area facing difficulties in their life due to economic condition or
lack of awareness. However, there are some micro-finance working on Daunnedevi
VDC for the betterment of women but still there is necessity of study about it how it
become useful for empowering women or if not why this is failed to empowering
women to be investigated .
This study is limited on descriptive as well as exploratory research design. While
primary data was collected through field survey, observation whereas secondary data
obtained from published, unpublished materials, articles, books or related websites.
This study focused on those women who are participated in micro-finance 3 or more
years only. It shows that there were many women who are not capable to earn money
before they involved in MFP they face difficult for their basic needs too. But later
getting different training and skills some of them become entrepreneurs. They started
their own business while other started commercial farming due to this they started
earns money for their personal use as well as for their home. Now they felt that they
do not depend on their husband for little money after they get opportunities from MFI.
Moreover, this study shows that participation is a key factor to empowering women
without participation empowerment is not possible. In the past women are lack in
participation in decision making either at home or in society by contrast it is changed
slightly because of this they can take decision at home as well as in society too but
still this is not satisfactory. Anyway, we may say that micro-finance become a popular
instruments for those who were not economically sound also who had not access to
resources.
There are different aspects of participation which tried to show in this study,
Participation in decision making at home, participation in community work and so on.
Similarly, this study tried to find out the access of women in resources as well as
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ownership in property. After participation of MFP access of women on resources and
women started feeling that level of leadership has also increased.
This research results shows that women participation in different activities has
increased after they involved in MFP, the highest proportion of women (28%) spent
their time farming and housewives before they got involved in there was no one who
involved in commercial farming and small scale industry before but later 6% women
involved in small scale industry while, 12% started vegetables farming. Likewise,
annul income also rose after they joined MFP, in previous years there was no one who
earn above one lakh but later it increased by 10%.Whereas 72% women thought that
it has changed their speaking ability but still 28% women hesitate to speak in front of
others, we can take this as an example of empowerment. In conclusion from this
study we can say that participation is a key factor to empowerment if we want to
make empower someone first they should participated in different activities.
Description
Keywords
Women Participation, Micro-finance, Nawalparasi, Women empowerment