30-04-2012, 02:38 PM
Empowerment of Women in India through Microfinance
EMPOWERMENT_OF_WOMEN_THROUGH_MICROFINANCE.docx (Size: 25.84 KB / Downloads: 139)
Introduction
Microfinance is emerging as a powerful instrument for poverty alleviation in the new economy. In India, Microfinance scene is dominated by Self Help Group (SHGs)-Bank Linkage Programme as a cost effective mechanism for providing financial services to the “Unreached Poor” which has been successful not only in meeting financial needs of the rural poor women but also strengthen collective self help capacities of the poor ,leading to their empowerment. Rapid progress in SHG formation has now turned into an empowerment movement among women across the country.
Impact of Microfinance on Women through Microfinance
FEMINIST EMPOWERMENT PARADIGM
The feminist empowerment paradigm did not originate as a Northern imposition, but is firmly rooted in the development of some of the earliest micro-finance programmes in the South, including SEWA in India. It currently underlies the gender policies of many NGOs and the perspectives of some of the consultants and researchers looking at gender impact of micro-finance programmes (e.g. Chen 1996, Johnson, 1997).
POVERTY REDUCTION PARADIGM
The poverty alleviation paradigm underlies many NGO integrated poverty-targeted community development programmes. Poverty alleviation here is defined in broader terms than market incomes to encompass increasing capacities and choices and decreasing the vulnerability of poor people.
FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY PARADIGM
The financial self-sustainability paradigm (also referred to as the financial systems approach or sustainability approach) underlies the models of microfinance promoted since the mid-1990s by most donor agencies and the Best Practice guidelines promoted in publications by USAID, World Bank, UNDP and CGAP.
Conclusion
Although it is difficult to say which factors are more important for empowering women. The differences in pace of empowerment might be a result of various factors: household and village characteristics, cultural and religious norms within the society, behavioral differences between the respondents and their family members; and the kind of training and awareness programs that women have been exposed to.