The role of Micro-Credit on Empowerment of Women in Bangladesh

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to know the role of microcredit in income generating activities of
rural women and its impact on their socio-economic empowerment and to explore the relationships of
the women’s selected characteristics with their empowerment. The study was conducted in South
Surma Upazila of Sylhet district in Bangladesh. A total of 100 responses were gathered from a
population of 137 and data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS).
Empowerment was assessed on the basis of 9 factors by using a 4-point rating scale. Pearson’s
correlation coefficient (r) was computed to explore the relationship between the extents of rural
women empowerment with their selected characteristics. The findings revealed that the majority (50%) of
the women had a medium level of empowerment. Based on the results, women must be further
empowered by enhancing their skills, awareness, knowledge and technology usage, thereby
facilitating the overall development of society as well as the country.