Micro Finance & Women

Micro finance is a policy instrument to promote economic development, employment and growth through the support of micro entrepreneurs and small businesses. Micro finance is a movement whose objective is a world in which as many poor and near-poor households as possible have permanent access to an appropriate range of high quality financial services, including not just credit but also savings, insurance, and fund transfers. Many of those who promote micro finance believe that such access will help poor people get out of poverty. Several factors have led to increased interest in micro finance in promoting growth with gender equity. With the growing globalisation and liberalisation of the economy as well as increased privatisation of services, women as a whole have been left behind and not been able to partake in the fruits of success. Mainstreaming of women into the new and emerging areas of growth is imperative. This will require training and skill upgradation in emerging trades and encouraging more women to take up vocational training and employment in the booming sectors. Small enterprises are the best vehicle for stimulating entrepreneurial talent and participation of women in the development process. Small enterprises provide livelihood, check rural-urban migration, generate export earnings and touch upon the lives of the marginalised, disadvantaged and vulnerable women, in both urban and rural areas. The role of micro finance cannot be over emphasised in this context. This book contains 11 research papers, authored by experts in the field of finance, which provide empirical evidence of the role of micro finance in economically empowering women, particularly in rural areas.