EMPOWERMENT INEQUITY OF MICROFINANCE INTERVENTION: ROLE OF COMMUNICATION IN COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

Abstract

It is assumed that microfinance through self-help groups is an accelerator of development and change. A self-help group is a voluntary association of 10 to 20 women from the disadvantaged section of the population who come together to save and avail credit from microfinance institutions and banks through a facilitating agency such as NGO. This paper reviews the scope and limitations of self-help groups in having an impact on the economic and social upliftment of its members by focussing on empirical research conducted in the state of Jharkhand and review of existing literature. Majority of the available literature focuses on the economic empowerment of women through microfinance intervention with a minuscule focus on social empowerment through identified social empowerment variables. This study points out that economic empowerment has not translated into desired social empowerment for the beneficiaries of this program. The social empowerment of the marginalized is still a mirage. This paper investigates the reason for the same and the role of communication in gender sensitization and stakeholder participation as communication is a facilitator of social change. It aims towards understanding the linkage of community participation and communication for empowerment and propose suggestions for the same.