The role of microfinance in women's empowerment : a comparative study of rural & urban groups in India / Raji Ajwani-Ramchandani.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ajwani-Ramchandani, Raji, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

International economic relations.

Microfinance--India.

Microfinance.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (330 pages) : illustrations, charts, maps, tables

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Bingley, England : Emerald Publishing, 2017.

Summary:

While the important topic of women's empowerment through microfinance has been the subject of academic and practitioner interest, Ramchandani examines these issues from brand-new perspectives. This new work focuses on the Self-Help Group (SHG) model, an under-studied aspect of microfinance practice, and looks at both rural communicates and urban slums. Ramchandani presents recent empirical work from India including first-hand field-level case studies, where microfinance plays a key development role in reducing poverty, addressing women's empowerment, and fostering rural economic growth.

Contents:

Front Cover

The Role of Microfinance in Women's Empowerment

Copyright Page

Contents

List of Figures

List of Tables

List of Boxes

List of Maps

List of Abbreviations

Preface

Foreword

Microfinance and Female Empowerment

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1 Introduction

1. Introduction

Disparities in Employment Opportunities and Compensation between Men and Women

Challenges associated with a Globally Integrated Economy: Its Adverse Impact on Women's Economic Empowerment

Limited Access of Women to Land, Housing and Other Productive Resources

Collective Bargaining Power

Access to Basic Infrastructure: Water, Transport, Electricity, etc.

2. Rationale for the Study

3. Research Questions/Objectives/Hypotheses

Objectives of the Study

Research Hypotheses

4. Scope and Limitation of the Study

5. Structure of the Book

Chapter 2 Literature Review

1. Review of Literature

2. Empowerment: Definitions and Perspectives

3. Microfinance: As an Enabler of Development Initiatives

4. Impact of Microfinance on Women and Empowerment

5. Challenges and Critiques of Microfinance

Chapter 3 Conceptualising Empowerment: A Theoretical Model

2. Life Stages: Needs and Sources of Funds

3. Paradigms of Empowerment

4. Agency, Resources and Achievements - Connection with Empowerment

5. Positive and Negative Freedom: Gender and Distribution of Resources

6. Research Gap

Chapter 4 Nationalisation to Demonetisation: An Overview of the Indian Banking Sector

2. Access to Finance: Concepts of Financial Inclusion and Exclusion

Causes of Financial Exclusion

Factors Affecting Access to Financial Services

Consequences of Financial Exclusion

Individual Level

Community /Societal Level

Impact on Banks

3. The Indian Banking Scenario.

Stage 1: From Independence up to the Nationalisation of Banks

Stage 2: Post-Nationalisation (A Thrust towards Social Banking) (1969-1990)

Stage 3: Post-Reforms Period (Opening Up of the Indian Banking Sector) (Early 1990s to end 1990s)

Stage 4: Fixing the Gaps after Banking Reforms (Mid-2000 to 2014)

4. Post-2014 (Modi Era and Demonetisation)

Chapter 5 Microfinance in India - The Self-Help Group Federation and Joint Liability Models

1. Microfinance - The Paradigm

Status of Microfinance in India

2. SHG-Bank Linkage Programmes

About SHGs: Composition and Structure

Different Types of SHG Models

3. MFI-Bank Linkage Programmes

4. Joint Liability Groups

Criteria for Membership into JLGs

Region-wise Trends of JLGs in India

Chapter 6 Data and Methods

2. Data Sources

Selection of the Study Area

Maharashtra State

Maharashtra: A Paradox of Prosperity and Poverty

Gender Bias: Adverse Sex Ratio

Rampant Malnutrition

Unexplored Potential: Opportunity for MFIs

Maharashtra: Less documented - Needs Attention

Selection of Pune District

Selection of Microfinance Promoting Institutions and Locations

3. Selection of the Village and Slums

Selection of Vetale Village

Selection of Slums (Pune)

Sampling Frame

Sampling Units

Sampling Tools

Sample Selection and Size

Research Design and Method

Usage of Ethnography

Data Collection Timeframe

Research Constructs

Empowerment

Microfinance

Community-based Microfinance Institutions (CMFIs)

Rural and Urban Areas

Chapter 7 An Overview of the MFI Organisations: Annapurna Pariwar (AP) and GMSS

1. Annapurna Pariwar (AP)

Annapurna Mahila Mandal (AMM), Mumbai

Annapurna Mahila Mandal, Pune

Annapurna Parivar Vikas Samavardhan (APVS).

Vatsalyapurna Swayamrojgar Seva Cooperative Society (VSSCS)

Annapurna Mahila Cooperative Credit Society Ltd (AMCCSL)

2. Process of JLG Formation and Management at AMCCSL

3. Gramin Mahila Swayamsiddha Sangh (GMSS)

Origins of the SHG Federation Model at GMSS

The Rationale for Forming SHG Federations

Structure

Governing Body

Nomination to the Board

Products and Other Value Added Inputs Offered by GMSS

Savings Collection

Deepti Arogya Nidhi: Health Mutual for Members

Loan Products

4. Comparisons between Two Models (GMSS-SHG Model and AMACS-JLG)

Chapter 8 Observations and Discussion - Rural Area

2. Rural Context (SHG Federation Model)

3. About Gramin Mahila Swayamsiddha Sangh

4. Details on Selected SHGs and Their Sample Members

5. Changes at the Individual Member Level

6. Changes in Savings ('Power To')

Changes in beneficiaries' extent and ability to contribute to the household kitty ('Power To')

Changes in the beneficiaries' ability to access and service credit ('Power To')

7. Sources of Credit Repayment

8. Changes in the Extent of Appreciation Received by the Beneficiaries from Family Members/Friends after Access to Microfinance ('Power within')

9. Changes in the Mobility ('Power Within')

10. Changes in the Ability to Express Opinion and Views ('Power Within')

11. Changes in the Ability to Face Medical Emergencies ('Power Over')

12. Changes in the Ability to Undertake Banking Transactions Independently (Power To)

13. Changes in the Personal Grooming Pattern ('Power Within')

14. Changes in the Awareness of Development Programmes ('Power Within')

15. Changes at the Village/Community Level as Perceived by the Stakeholders

16. Existence of the Other Informal Savings Options

17 Other Assets Owned by the Members.

18. Participation by Members in Leadership Positions

Chapter 9 Observations and Discussion - Urban Area

2. Urban Context (JLG Model)

About Annapurna Pariwar's Microfinance Arm

3. Details about the JLGs and Their Members

4. Changes at the Individual Level

Power Within

Changes in the Awareness of Development Programmes (Power Within)

Changes in the Ability to Speak Up or Express Oneself (Power Within)

Changes in Personal Grooming Pattern (Power Within)

Changes in the Mobility after Access to Microfinance (Power Within)

Changes in the Level of Appreciation Received from Family and Friends (Power Within)

Power To

Changes in the Extent of Savings (Power To)

Changes in the Contribution to the Household Kitty and Borrowing (Power To)

Changes in the Ability to Repay Household Loans with Own Earnings (Power To)

Changes in Participating in the Usage of Household Funds and Undertaking Banking Transactions Independently (Power To)

Power With

Changes in Casting Ballot (Power With)

Power Over

Changes in the Ability to Face Medical Emergencies (Power Over)

Chapter 10 Vetale Village: Then and Now (2013-2016)

1. Getting Back

2. Infrastructure-Level Changes

3. SHG Federation and Village Cluster-Level Changes

Demonetization and Its Effect on the Operations of SHGs

Introduction of Technology

4. SHGs and Member-Level Changes

Entrepreneurship or Not?

Chapter 11 Concluding Remarks

2. Section 1

Inordinate Delay in the Passage of the Microfinance Institutions (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2012

Misuse of the Banking System: Fulfil Political Agendas

The Demonetisation Exercise

Bhartiya Mahila Bank (BMB): A Damp Squib at Taxpayers Cost

MUDRA Bank: Old Wine in New Bottle?

The Indian Microfinance Crisis (2010).

3. Section 2: Points that Emerged from the Study Results (Rural and Urban)

Research Objective #1: To Study the Status of Empowerment of Women Beneficiaries after Access to Microfinance

Research Objective 2: To Understand the Challenges of the SHG/JLG Models as Faced by the Beneficiaries

Research Objective 3: To Recommend Suggestions for Improving the Efficacy of Both the Models

4. Section 3

Forming Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) to Avail of Market Linkages

Developing Livelihood Clusters (for Other Women - Not Engaged/Interested in Farming Activities)

Greater Use of E-wallets in the Foreseeable Future: Can Help to Lower the Physical Movement of Cash and Lower Risk

Self-Help Group Promoting Institutions: Sustaining Institutions with a Demonstrated Track-Record

Payment Banks

Appendix 1 A 'Bad Loans' Bank for India

Appendix 2 Less Cash or Cashless: What about the Common Man?

References

Websites Visited

Index.

Notes:

Includes index.

Includes bibliographical references.

Print version record

ISBN:

9781787149281

1787149285

9781787144255

1787144259