Micro finance and its impact on women empowerment: An empirical study

The Self Help Group Bank Linkage Programme (SBLP) aims to extend income generating self-employment activities among under privileged women in rural areas with the fulfillment offinancial inclusive policy of the Government. It plays a significant role in improving the standard of living and economic wellbeing of the rural household. Previously, lack of loan facilities from the formal institutions had left the poor people with no other option but to borrow money from the local moneylenders at a higher rate of interest. This led to the emergence ofmicrofinance which is considered as the vehicle for achieving empowerment of the women in all spheres - social, cultural, political and economic. The present study will try to examine the impact of micro finance through Self Help Group Bank Linkage Programme (SBLP) on women empowerment through the enhancing employment opportunities which substantially influence to reduce rural poverty. A study was conducted in Mathurapur village, Block 1, South 24 Parganas, WB, India. This project also investigated the loan use pattern of the members and the savings generated from the productive use of the loan. It can be also inferred that the productive use of the credit by the women leads to more contribution in GDP through the transmission channel of consumption demand as well as investment demand.