Women’s agency for empowering tribal communities: an empirical analysis of microfinance-based developmental processes

Abstract

This study is primarily based on the empirical field evidence and secondary data from relevant databases to decipher microfinance-led empowerment of tribal women and impact on local communities. Tribal women are marginalised entity even in tribal community and tend to face the brunt of societal discrimination in and out of the house, which leads to disempowerment. Over the years, microfinance interventions have also ignored their plight barring few aberrations. This makes the study relevant and important from policy perspective. The evidence suggests that even though microfinance as a developmental model, it is not a runaway success, but did make some positive impact on the tribal community, especially in the lives of tribal women. The findings reveal a positive linkage between microfinance initiatives and empowerment. It is the outcome of multiple cycles of value creation, allowing tribal women to fight against abject poverty. The study shows that microfinance interventions empower tribal women economically, socially, psychologically, and politically. Nevertheless, the broad impact can only be realised if the government and non-government organisations work in convergence for women led local development.