The Effects of Microcredit on The Empowerment of Women in Northern Region of Bangladesh

Md. Rakibul Islam Rubel, Md. Mozahidul Haque and Mohammad Earfan Ali Khondaker

International Journal of Science and Business, 2019, vol. 3, issue 6, 191-202

Abstract: The study investigated the effects of microcredit on the empowerment of women in the Northern region of Bangladesh. The leading NGOs namely ASA, BRAC, GRAMEEN BANK, PROSHIKA, SKS and TMSS were targeted for data collection in the three selected districts viz., Gaibandha, Rangpur and Dinajpur in the Northern region of Bangladesh. A total of 247 women (Microcredit borrowers) were selected randomly from the selected districts as the sample of the study. The findings of the study showed that microcredit reduces economic problems of the women and helps to enhance economic empowerment. And also after taking loan or involving with microcredit their family income, expenditure and savings increased significantly. Positive and significant empowerment effects were found for the indicators: intra-HH decision, mobility, and own & child healthcare. It is seen that after taking loan or involving with microcredit decision-making power have changed for the women in all the dimensions used in this study and more importantly the women view such changes rather positively. If interest rates are kept low, payments are collected in a reasonable amount of time, and support in terms of education and advice are granted to borrowers, microcredit can continue to positively impact and empower women in Bangladesh and abroad. It is hoped that the findings of this study would prove to be useful for Government departments, NGO’s, Agencies and Researchers who wish to do further research in the areas mentioned above and may be helpful to the policy makers and planners in formulating plans for national development.

Keywords: Microcredit; Effects of Microcredit; Economic Empowerment of Women; Empowerment of Women; Decision-making power; Mobility of women; Bangladesh (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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