empowering women entrepreneurs in agriculture and education sectors in India using microfinance innovations

Abstract

All over the world there is a gender disparity issue which has been addressed from the views of economic and financial aspects. Women have been the most underprivileged and discriminated strata of the society not only in India. The government of India has been bringing in schemes in order to make all women especially the rural women to become financially literate and independent. In the recent times, microfinance has been emerging as a powerful instrument for empowering women particularly, the rural women. Apart from the informal sector of finance the formal sectors like NABARD, commercial banks, non-banking financial corporations as well as NGOs are taking much interest in providing microfinance to women. The various schemes are not only helping women to run their small business but also converting them into a profitable commercial activity. Women are also participating in the microfinance movement by availing the innovative microfinance services being provided by the various financial channels. newlineThis study aims at assessing the various empowerment factors in women such as social, financial, human, intellectual and leadership skills development and mentoring factors. The study will take into consideration women in the Education sector and Agriculture sector. The aim of the study is to bring out models of empowerment for each of the sectors and study the levels of financial literacy of women in Education and Agriculture. This would help in recommending to the various government and non- government agencies about the innovative schemes of microfinance that can be implemented so that more women can be included under the financial inclusion programmes of the government. newline