ISSN : 2249-1791
EISSN : 2249-1805
THIMMAIAH N.1, CHENGAPPA R.2
1Department of Studies in Economics and Cooperation, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysore- 570 005, Karnataka, India.
2Post Graduate Department of Studies in Economics, Maharani’s Arts and Commerce College for Women, Mysore- 570 005, Karnataka, India.
Received : 13-11-2013 Accepted : 12-12-2013 Published : 30-12-2013
Volume : 3 Issue : 1 Pages : 25 - 30
Bioinfo Bus Manag 3.1 (2013):25-30
Inspite of the various measures taken up by the government after Independence, the Women haven’t been fully empowered. The female feticide is not an uncommon phenomenon. The ratio of female to male though improved over last few years, it is still far from satisfactory as it is 940 women per 1000 men in India and in some states it is as lower as 877(Haryana) and 618 in Union Territory of Daman and Diu according to 2011 census. The female literacy rate is 65.46 which is much lower than the male literacy rate of 82.14. With all government programmes and interventions, the gender gap continues to exist in all arenas. This calls for interventions from other sections of the society towards women empowerment. The most vital intervention is proved to be from the NGOs. The Micro Finance Institutions along with NGOs are creating a revolution in women empowerment acting through Self Help Groups (SHGs). The present paper tried to document such an effort by Sangamithra Rural Financial Services (SRFS), a Micro Finance Institution operating in Mysore district. A comparative study was taken up to analyse the impact of SRFS on women empowerment by collecting data from women members and non members of SRFS belonging to different SHGs. Employing Chi-Square and Independent samples “t†test, it was found that the mean income of SRFS members were greater than Non members of SRFS. It was also found that, SRFS membership (proxy for awareness on financial services and institutions) is associated with educational levels, levels of savings and insurance status of people.