Regional Rural Banks, Microfinance and Women Empowerment

Abstract

Banks play a positive role in the economic development of a country. It accepts deposits in various forms like current, savings etc. By offering attractive saving schemes and ensuring safety of deposits, it encourages willingness to save among people. Specially, women who are having more saving propensity are quickly concerned in lucrative schemes offered by rural banks through bridge of Self Help Groups. Women are to be given financial support, which tends to support their economic empowerment. Microfinance is a strong instrument to evoke the fury of spirit for empowerment of women in society. The present study on consequence of microfinance by Assam Gramin Vikash Bank on level of empowerment of women microfinance beneficiaries revealed that majority (74.58%) of the respondent found it is medium, while there was a strong correlation (significance level=. 0.000) between repayment of microfinance and level of women empowerment.