WOMEN EMPOWERMENT THROUGH MICROFINANCE (A case study of East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh)

Abstract:- A well designed microfinance program will prove to be an effective tool for policy makers in empowering women with its associated benefits. Women represent 50% of the world population, they receive only 10 % of the world income and own even less than one percent of the world’s property. Unless women progress on par with the economic prosperity of the world, inclusive growth cannot be ensured. The idea of SHGs has its origin from Olson’s theory of group behavior. According to which human beings have an intrinsic propensity to form and work in groups if they are organized to further their common interest. (NABARD1995). The housewives traditionally confined themselves to home making, are now entering new vistas where they engage themselves in productive activities. Small household savings and supportive credit from SHG-Bank Linkage programme are used to augment family incomes and consequently consumption, investment activities increased. There is transformation going on around under SHGs through microfinance. Yet there is a lot to be done to make this transformation visible