Women Empowerment Through Microfinance

Empirical Evidence from India (A Micro-Level Study)

Abstract

This paper aims to conduct an empirical investigation of how microfinance contributes to the empowerment of women. Then, it examines the relationship between the microfinance services and the dependent women entrepreneurs' performance (economic and social). Descriptive design was used to learn about the status of women, and correlational design was used to look at relationships. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used in this particular study. The respondents were chosen at random to evaluate the casual relationship between the hypotheses that were designed to analyse the impact of microfinance on women's empowerment. The results show that generally, the Micro financial institutions are placing more emphasis on sound lending and saving habits as well as training programmes. The microfinance programme was perceived by participants as providing social and economic empowerment. They did, however, highlight the somewhat positive impact of the microfinance programme on information empowerment. Furthermore, there is a strong connection between microfinance services and women's empowerment. The results of the path analysis report that economic and social empowerment have a significant relationship with women empowerment due to availing microfinance programme in developing countries. The study highlights that to encourage women empowerment in developing countries, governments and policymakers have to carefully check and reconsider what are the most optimal Micro financial institutions that will help to improve women empowerment in the country.