Micro Finance & Women empowerment: A Study of Stree Shakti Programmes in Bellary District of Karnataka

It is widely accepted that the development process in many parts of the world including India had bypassed the women. Empowerment is therefore a multi-dimensional process, which should enable the individuals to realize their full identity and powers in all spheres of life. Among the various measures targeted towards women's empowerment, the provision of microfinance or small credit assumes crucial importance. A paper looks into the self help group as a “self governed, peer controlled informal group of people with similar socio-economic background and giving a desire to collectively perform common purpose. Therefore an attempt is made in this paper to find out the performance and appraisal of the Microfinance through Stree Shakthi programme of Karnataka at the district level. Stree Shakti is the Karnataka State Governments' Women's programme strictly focused on empowerment of rural women and making them financially, socially and politically capable.Paper observes that Some sections of the poorest of poor find it difficult to participate in stree shakti programme. Since only 0.07% of women are participated in the district, Care should be taken to make them participate in the programme. Reserve the Stree shakti programme women at least under the govt. sponsored programmes like Anganawadi food supplies etc. Paper strongly feels the need of inspection at the beneficiaries level to understand the ground realities further