ROLE OF MICROFINANCE ON ECONOMIC UPLIFTMENT AND DECISION MAKING OF UNDER-PRIVILEGED WOMEN SEGMENT- A STUDY ON SELECT DISTRICT OF WEST BENGAL.

Financial services for the poor, often referred to as microfinance, cannot solve all the problems caused by poverty. but they can help put resources and power into the hands of the poor and low-income, giving them a way to make their own day-to-day decisions and chart their own. path out of poverty. This study focussed on the role of microfinance on economic betterment and decision making on underprivileged women segment. The study is based on primary data as well as secondary data. Primary data was collected, through telephonic interview with the help of structured questionnaire, from women borrowers of microfinance in the North 24 Parganas District of West Bengal. 101 respondents had been chosen by Convenient Sampling, who agreed to respond. Frequency Analysis and Cross Tabulation were used for Descriptive Statistics. Chi- Square test for Independence of Attributes and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test are used to test the hypothesis. The findings concluded that Age and family type were important demographic factors that influence women's decisions in the study area. They took part in decision making process at household level, diversified their profession and economic activities, increased their income and savings. They had started believing in their self-worthiness, confidence, self -reliance and could shoulder better responsibility to a larger extent