ROLE OF MICROFINANCE FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM RURAL BANGLADESH: Role of microfinance for women empowerment: Empirical…

Aeynun Tasnim Rinta; Mohammad Mizanul Haque Kazal; Mahfuza Afroj; Rezoyana Kabir Rasha

Authors

Aeynun Tasnim Rinta Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University
Mohammad Mizanul Haque Kazal Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University
Mahfuza Afroj Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University
Rezoyana Kabir Rasha Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University

Keywords:

Decision making, Microfinance institution, Women empowerment

Abstract

Microfinance programs are being considered as an important development strategy all over the world especially in developing countries like Bangladesh. Different studies focused on benefit of microfinance in rural development, but none explored the actual impact of microfinance in women empowerment. Thus, this study focused on the actual impact of microfinance on women empowerment in Bangladesh. Data were collected from 60 women beneficiaries from Grameen Bank, BRAC and ASA by face-to-face interview during June-July 2020. This study used average method and frequency distribution to construct women empowerment index in Bangladesh. The findings of the study reveal that the socio-economic condition and empowerment status of the respondents’ female borrowers of microfinance was not satisfactory level. Only 18.3% respondents utilize the loan money herself and the other 81.7% respondents give the money to their husband. Additionally, in the study area microfinance services only help the rural women to improve their decision-making ability and it does not help to achieve other domains of empowerment.

ROLE OF MICROFINANCE FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM RURAL BANGLADESH