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observation and by taking interview from the respondents of four organizations namely
SEWA, KSSS, Light Microfinance Pvt. Ltd. and Saath Savings & Credit Co-operative
Society Ltd. was combined for qualitative analysis. This was used to gain further insights
on the empowerment levels of women and impact of micro-finance services. These
studies also allowed the researcher to compare their services and resultant impact on
women empowerment.
Major findings reveal that it is found that micro-savings and micro-loans are preferred
services. Various paradigms of women empowerment are studied like Economic, Socio-
Cultural, Familial/Interpersonal, Psychological, Legal and Political at household,
community, and national levels. There is a significant difference in the proportion of
women who had experienced change in empowerment levels. Maximum change is found
in psychological empowerment followed by economical followed by familial/interpersonal
empowerment. An association is also found between several services of micro-finance
institutions like provision of micro-loans, tenure of membership, attending training
programs organized by MFIs and position held in group to changes in various parameters
of empowerment in women. Also the demographic characteristics like education, income,
occupation, castes are having impact on different dimensions of empowerment. An inter-
relationship is found between different empowerment dimensions. The four different set-
ups of MFIs are studied and it suggests the differences in change in vivid dimensions of
empowerment.
Key Words: Women Empowerment, Economical, Socio-Cultural, Familial/Interpersonal,
Psychological, Legal and Political
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