DEMOGRAPHIC INFLUENCE AND ROLE OF MICROFINANCE TOWARDS FAMILIAL EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN – AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

Empowerment of women is a contemporary issue to bring development in the society. Empowering women is multidimensional in nature. Familial empowerment of women is one of the critical dimensions besides other essential dimensions of women empowerment like economic, personal empowerment, etc. This empirical study was conducted to quantify the level of familial empowerment of women and to identify whether engagement in microfinance activities plays a role towards her empowerment. This study found that engagement in microfinance activities has a positive impact on the achievement of familial empowerment among women. Highly educated husbands are found encouraging their wives to be involved in microfinance activities in the study area. It is also revealed in the study that when women are undertaking entrepreneurial activities, they are getting keen interest in joining microfinance activities. Therefore, the necessary policy measures need to be implemented for promoting self-employment, entrepreneurial activities in the rural economy.