Department of Management studies

Nabira Mahavidyalaya, Katol

A
Project Report on

"A study on Women Empowerment Through

GrameenKoota Financial Services in Maharashtra."

Submitted To

Rashtrasanth Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur

In the Partial Fufillment for the Degree of Master of Business Administration
(2020-21)

Submitted By
Chiranjiv Wahane

Under the Guidance of

Dr. Pradip Mahajan sir

1
 Department of Management studies
Nabira Mahavidyalaya, Katol

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that this project entitled “ A study on Women Empowerment Through
GrameenKoota Financial Services in Maharashtra." Submitted by Chiranjiv Ratnakar Wahane to
Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur for the award of Master of Business Administration is
a bonafide research work carried out under my guidance and supervision.

Dr. Pradip Mahajan Dr. S.K. Navin

Guide Principal

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 Department of Management studies
Nabira Mahavidyalaya, Katol

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I take an opportunity to acknowledge and extend my heartfelt gratitude to my guide and the pivot this
initiative. Dr.Pradip Mahajan Department of Management studies, Nabira Mahavidyalaya Katol for this
valuable guidance, encouragement and help for this work. His useful suggestions for this whole work and co-
operative behaviour are gratefully acknowledge.

I am very thankful to. Dr. S. K. Navin Principal Department of Management Studies, Nabira
Mahavidyalaya, Katol and Dr. Hitesh Vaswani Head of Department for their support and encouragement.

I am thankful to all the staff members of Department of Management Studies, for their co-operation in
my work.

I wish to thank one and all for the co-operation in completing this project.

Mr. Chiranjiv Ratnakar Wahane

Name of the student

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 Department of Management studies
Nabira Mahavidyalaya, Kato

DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the Project entitled " A study on Women Empowerment Through
GrameenKoota Financial Services in Maharashtra."

Any part this Project has not submitted earlier to any Institution or University for the award of any other
Diploma or Degree, not the data has been derived from any of the Unoversity. The sources of material and data
used in this study have been duly acknowledge.

Date :-
Place : ( Chiranjiv Wahane)

Name of Student

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 Index

SR.NO. PARTICULAR/CHAPTER PAGE NO.

01 Executive Summary

02 Introduction of the Topic

a) Introduction
b) Objective of Study
c) Limitations of the Study

03 Literature Review

04 Research Methodology
Executive Summery
a) Research Design
b) Data Collection Methods
c) Hypothesis

05 Data Analysis and Interpretation

06 Findings and Conclusion

07 Recommendations/ Suggestion

08 Bibliography

09 Annexure

a) Questionnaire
b) Any other Relevant documents

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 Executive Summary:-

The Code of Conduct report for Grameen Financial Services Private Limited (Grameen Koota)
evaluates the company’s adherence towards different code of conduct parameters. The study examines and
comments upon the common minimum indicators such as:
 Client Origination & Targeting
 Loan Pricing & Transparency
 Loan Appraisal
 Privacy of Client Information
 Staff Behaviour and Client Grievance Handling
 Integrating Social Values Into Operations
 Relationship Management and Feedback Mechanism
 Compliance Status of MFI the Recent RBI Guidelines

Access to microfinance has demonstrated an important role in achieving many of the Millennium
Development Goals, which have a central place in the Swedish Policy for Global Development, adopted by the
Swedish Parliament in 2003. This policy has also brought gender equality into the centre of Sida’s mission to pro-
mote and create conditions for poverty reduction, which was ex-plicitly presented in
Sida’s policy Promoting Gender Equality in Development Work (2005). Given that a majority of microfi nance
programmes target women with the explicit goal of empowering them, this paper investigates the impact of
microfi nance on wom-en’s empowerment. Empowerment of women is defi ned as the process in which women
challenge the existing norms and culture to effectively improve their well- being. A distinction is therefore
made between outcomes that lead to greater effi ciency within exist-ing norms, community-driven development
and outcomes that can be directly interpreted as women’s empowerment. Taking the case of the Self Help
Group (SHG) bank linkage programme in India, this paper examines the evidence from a multi-level survey,
which includes a quantitative database along with interviews, focus group discussions and case studies.The
results show a defi nite economic impact on households, with increases in income and decline in vulnerability.
The data fur-ther reveals signifi cant impact on SHG households in terms of con-trol, management ability, self-
confi dence, change in behaviour and decision-making. Apart from social empowerment, the SHG households
also demonstrate greater awareness and participation in local politics. However, the impact is not refl ected in
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certain key de-cisions, which would – according to this paper – be true evidence of women’s empowerment.
For instance, no signifi cant changes are observed in the decision-making power of women in the fi eld of
adopting family planning measures or buying and selling of land. Major strides have been made by the SHG
bank linkage pro-gramme in the direction of women’s empowerment, but there is still some way to go before
these efforts can be translated into out-comes. It would therefore be safe to infer that the minimal microfi -nance
approach might lead to an increase in self-confi dence, deci-sion-making and control – thereby acting as a
catalyst – but it does not empower women by itself. For microfi nance to show an impact on women’s
empowerment, it needs to be supplemented by micro-fi nance ‘plus’ or other non-fi nancial services, like
training, aware-ness creation programmes, education, etc. These can empower women to effectively improve
their positions within the household, community and society, and not just make them more effi cient in their
roles defi ned within the existing norms. This paper also dis-cusses the importance of sustainability,
maintaining the quality of the SHGs and supporting them if such programmes are to show a long-term impact.

INTRODUCTION

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 Introduction:-

“Millions of women in our hamlets know what unemployment means. Give them access to economic
activities and they will have access to power and self-confidence to which they hitherto have been strangers” -
Mahatma Gandhi
The relationship between women's empowerment and social development has been a major
theme in studies of any nation’s overall development. The United Nation (UN) claims that improving women’s
status is not only beneficial to themselves but also for overall social economic development of the nation.
"Investing in women's capabilities and empowering them to exercise their choices is not only
valuable in itself but is also the surest way to contribute to economic growth and overall development" (United
Nations, 1995).

DEFINING WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT

United Nations Population Information Network (POPIN) has defined women’s
empowerment based on five components, which are as follows:
 Women’s sense of self-worth.
 Their right to have access to opportunities and resources.
 Their right to have the power to control their own lives, both within and outside the home.
 Their right to have and to determine choices.
 Their ability to influence the direction of social changes to create a better social and economic order,
nationally and internationally.
From the definitions of women’s empowerment, as defined in the literature, we may visualise an empowered
woman. An empowered woman is confident in her ability; she is capable of leading her life independently; she
is socially as well as economically independent; she is opinionated, enlightened and has freedom from all sorts
of domination; and finally she is someone who is capable of standing for her own rights.
“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The
greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young”. – Henry Ford
Now we may formulate a new definition of women’s empowerment based on the above.

DEFINITION

Women’s empowerment comprises women’s education and knowledge to enhance her understanding about
her surroundings, her ability to control her life, freedom from
domination by not depending on anyone else’s income, her ability to participate in decision- making process, her
capability to make independent decisions and finally her independent.

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 Company Profile:-
Grameen Koota Profile

Introduction :

CreditAccess Grameen Limited (formerly known as Grameen Koota Financial Services Pvt. Ltd.) was born out
of the need for timely and affordable credit to India’s poor and low-income households.

CreditAccess Grameen was visualized by Mrs. Vinatha M. Reddy in December 1996, inspired by the book ‘Give
Us Credit’ by Alex Counts, President and CEO, Grameen Foundation USA. The book detailed remarkable stories of
Bangladesh’s poor who raised themselves out of poverty through the use of micro-credit during the microfinance
movement, spearheaded by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus.

CreditAccess Grameen was founded in May 1999 as a project under the T. Muniswamappa Trust (TMT), an NGO
in South Bangalore. Grameen Trust, Bangladesh, provided seed capital funding to TMT to replicate the Grameen Bank
Bangladesh microfinance model.CreditAccess Grameen adapted the Grameen Bank’s group lending methodology of
microfinance to the Indian setting and launched operations in Avalahalli on the outskirts of South Bangalore. It offered
collateral-free loans as well as other services to women from poor and low-income households with the aim of creating
equal opportunities and inclusive development of both urban and rural poor. The loans intended to help customers raise
their standard of living and break the cycle of poverty. CreditAccess Grameen steadily groomed a class of mature and
financially literate women entrepreneurs who began to outgrow the group lending model.CreditAccess Grameen targets
women because they are an integral part of the family, community and country’s socio-economic environment. It has been
observed that women tend to use resources more productively, so improving financial access for women may increase
their participation in the family’s and the community’s development. In 2007, the microfinance activities of CreditAccess
Grameen was transferred from NGO to a well-regulated and registered Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC),which
subsequently got reclassified into a regulated and governed Non-Banking Financial Company – Micro Finance
Institutions (NBFC-MFI) entity by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2013. Grameen Koota continues to be the operating
brand name of CreditAccess Grameen Limited (formerly known as Grameen Koota Financial Service Private Limited).
CreditAccess Grameen offers a multitude of both financial and non-financial products and services to cater to the life
cycle needs of its customers. CreditAccess Grameen products are subject to periodic modifications based on feedback
from customers and input from staff.

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 Board of Directors

As on March 31, 2019, the Board of your Company consists of nine Directors. Their details are as follows:

Category Name of Directors

Executive Director Mr. Udaya Kumar Hebbar,
Managing Director & CEO
Mr. Paolo Brichetti
Non-Executive
Mr. Massimo Vitta
Nominee Directors
Mr. Sumit Kumar
Mr. M N Gopinath
Mr. Prabha Raveendranathan
Non-Executive
Independent Mr. Anal Kumar Jain
Directors Mr. George Joseph
Ms. Sucharita Mukherjee

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11
 Philosophy:

CreditAccess Grameen’s philosophy is based on our vision and mission and we

Ensure that the organization is focused towards achieving the same.
Vision
CreditAccess Grameen wishes to enable economic and social change in poor and low-
Income households through financial products and development services in all the
Geographical areas of its operation.
Mission
We Exist:
To transform and uplift the lives of poor and low-income families with
Microfinance and other development services.
To be a sustainable, friendly and trusted provider of affordable and need-based
Services.
Grameen`s Guiding Principles
CreditAccess Grameen’s core philosophy is to strive towards enabling widespread economic and social change with our
diverse financial products and development services. The overarching principles that we abide by are encapsulated in
CREATE. CREATE stands for
COMMITTED We shall honour all our commitments. We are committed to our mission.
RELIABLE We shall not deviate from any of the policies and procedures.
ACCOUNTABLE We shall be accountable for all our deeds, actions and words.
TRANSPARENT We shall provide full disclosures, to all our clients, in
terms of the services and fees. We shall make our financial statements, reports and accounts as clear and as
comprehensive as possible.
EMPATHETIC We shall be sensitive to the situations and circumstances of the people with whom we are dealing and
provide them support to the best of our abilities.
EFFICIENT We shall be punctual, disciplined in all transactions with our stakeholders, strive towards reducing
operational costs and thereby provide services to our customers in a cost-effective manner.

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 Through its operating companies, CreditAccess Asia (CAA) provides convenient and reliable financial
services to Asian households lacking credit. CAA is present in India and Southeast Asia (Indonesia and
Philippines), providing working capital loans and other financial services, to unlock potential for its customer’s
families and businesses. CAA’s service model seeks to create long term relationships with its customers through
a `doorstep´ approach, underpinned by innovative technologies, to deliver efficient and customer-centric
financial products catering for their entire business lifecycle.
Over time CreditAccess Asia’s scope of operations has increased to reach almost 3 million customers and employs
almost 11,000people. It has accumulated € 726 million in Total Assets and has an Outstanding Net-Loan Portfolio
of € 651 million. Awards and Recognition
 SKOCH Resilient India Award 2017.
 ISC FICCI Award 2017 For Best Financial Accessibility For Sanitation.
 MIX 2015 S.T.A.R. Recognition.
 SMERA Upgrades Grameen Koota’s COCA Rating.
 2015: Industry’s top honour “Microfinance Organization of the Year 2015” in the ‘Large MFI’ category.
 2013: SKOCH Financial Inclusion Award 2013.
 2012: Silver Microfinance Information Exchange (“MIX”) Social
Performance Reporting Award.
 2011: Silver MIX Social Performance Reporting Award.
 2011: Hanson Wade Asia Microfinance Recognition Award (Successful product innovation for Water
and Sanitation Loan).
 2010: Hanson Wade Asia Microfinance Recognition Award (Social and Financial Transparency).
 2008: Growth Recognition Award from Unitus on reaching 2 lakh poor and low-income households.
 2008: Microfinance Process Excellence Award (MPEA) by PlaNet Finance and RBS Group.
 2007: Microfinance Pioneer Award from Grameen Foundation, USA.
 2006: Microfinance Process Excellence Award (MPEA): National Winner –
by PlaNet Finance & ABN AMRO.
 2005: Microfinance Process Excellence Award (MPEA) by PlaNet Finance and ABN AMRO.
Recognitions
 2017: Grameen Koota receives the SKOCH Resilient India Award 2017
 June 2017: Grameen Koota won the SKOCH Resilient India Award 2017 for Sanitation. The Award was
presented on 20 June 2017 at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Hall by Sameer Kochhar, Chairman of

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 SKOCH Group and Porush Singh, Division President – South Asia, Mastercard. Diwakar BR (CFO,
Grameen Koota), Anshul Sharan (Head- Strategy & Planning) and Sujay CT (Strategy & Planning)
received the Award on behalf of the organization. Managing Director & CEO Udaya Kumar said, “We
are delighted to receive the SKOCH Award andthe Order of Merit. It validates our core principle of
social responsibility to our stakeholders.”Grameen Koota also received the Order of Merit in two
categories: Microcredit service and Sanitation. The SKOCH Order of Merit recognized and appreciated
Grameen Koota’s efforts in delivering financial products and services to the last mile. 2017: Grameen Koota
receives the ISC FICCI 2017 Award for Best Financial Accessibility for Sanitation
 2016: SMERA Upgrades Grameen Koota's COCA Rating.
 2015-Smart Campaign Upholds Client Protection Certification.
 2015 – CRISIL Upgrades Grameen Koota rating from 'mfR2' to 'mfr1'. 2015 – M-CRIL Upgrades
Grameen Koota Social Rating.
 2014 – Grameen Koota retains the mfR2 grade by CRISIL.
 2014 - Grameen Koota’s ratings upgraded to ‘BBB+’ from ‘BBB’ by ICRA. 2014 - Grameen Koota gets
awarded with MIX 2013 STAR recognition. 2013 - Grameen Koota upgraded to BBB by ICRA’.
 2013 - Grameen Koota recognized as ‘Achiever’ by Truelift.
 2013 - Grameen Koota gets a Social rating of ‘∑α-’ (alpha minus) by M-CRIL. 2013 - Grameen Koota got
upgraded to mfR2 by CRISIL Rating.
 2013 - Grameen Koota awarded the Seal of Transparency. 2013 - Grameen Koota upgrades self into a
NBFC-MFI.
 2011 - PPI Certification from Grameen Foundation, USA.
 2010 - Ranked #1 Micro-finance Institution in India and #4 worldwide – by MIX. 2009 - Ranked among
the top 10 MFIs in the country – by CRISIL.
 2007 - Ranked 19th best in the first ever list of Top 50 micro-finance institutions in the world – by
Forbes.

Meaning

Microfinance is a way in which loans, credit, insurance, access to savings accounts, and money
transfers are provided to small business owners and entrepreneurs in the underdeveloped parts of India.

Importance of Microfinance
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 Almost half of the population of our country does not have a basic savings account. Microfinance
provides access to capital for individuals who are financially underserved. If microfinance institutions were not
offering loans to this segment of the society, the probability ofthem opting for fast cash loans or payday
advances (that bear huge interest rates) are also high. Microfinance helps these groups invest wisely in their
businesses, and hence, is in alignment with the government’s vision of financial inclusion in the country.

Highlights

1. Microloans in the range of Rs.20,000 – Rs.30,000 are availed the most in India. However, the category of
loans in the range of Rs.30,000 - Rs.40,000 saw a rise of 56% between Q3 FY18 and third quarter FY19.
2. The microfinance industry has registered a growth of 44% year of years as on 31 March 2019.

Key Features of Microfinance

Some of the significant features of microfinance are as follows: The borrowers are generally from low
income backgrounds who avail micro loans.The loan tenure is short, and purpose is income
generation.Microfinance loans do not require any collateral These loans are usually repaid at higher frequencies

Certification

15
 Over the years, CreditAccess Grameen has received numerous awards and recognition for setting a
paradigm of a customer-centric business model and efficient operations .

16
 Products & Services:

Income Generation Fund:

Purpose
Income Generation Loan supports business enterprises and income enhancement
Activities of the clients like purchasing fixed assets to installing additional machinery
Etc. These loans also meet the additional working capital requirements of the client’s
Businesses.
Loan Amount
Clients can avail loans up to Rs. 60,000/-.
Rate of Interest
First IGL loan 21% per annum on declining balance.
Second IGL loan 19% per annum on declining balance.
Supplement IGL loan 19% per annum on declining balance.
Tenure
Minimum 52 weeks to Maximum of 104 weeks depending on the loan
Amount.

Home Improvement Loans:

Purpose
CreditAccess Grameen offers its clients with home improvement loans to help them
Avail water connection loans and to construct toilets, besides improvement and
Extension of their existing houses, i.e. repair or replacing a roof, wall floor or door,
Mansoon proofing, adding a room or kitchen etc.
Loan Amount
Clients can avail loans ranging from Rs. 5,000/- up to Rs. 50,000/- under
Home Improvement Loan depending upon the purpose.
Rate of interest
18% per annum on declining balance.
Tenure
Minimum 52 weeks to Maximum of 208 weeks depending on the loan
Amount.

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 Emergency Loans:

Purpose
CreditAccess Grameen offers short term emergency loan to its clients to help them
Address emergencies and short-term cash flow constraints. This timely financial
Assistance refrains the members from resorting to other informal sources of money,
Which are very expensive.
Loan Amount
Clients can avail Emergency loans upto Rs. 1000/– to help them deal better
With sudden crisis situations.
Rate of interest
18% per annum on declining balance.
Tenure
Maximum of 3 months.

Family Welfare Loans :

Purpose
Family Welfare Loan supports all those activities for clients to improve their
Quality of life and they include loans for fulfilling genuine consumption needs, such
As purchasing cook stoves, LPG connections, bycycles, water purifiers and solar
Lights, meet education requirements of our clients’ children, to cover medical
Expenses and to cater specific needs that arise during festivals.
Loan Amount
Clients can avail loans ranging from Rs. 1,000/- up to Rs. 15,000/- under
Family Welfare loans depending upon the purpose.
Rate of interest
18% per annum on declining balance.
Tenure
Minimum 24 weeks to Maximum of 52 weeks depending on the loan amountamount.

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 Grameen Udyog loan :

Purpose:Grameen Udyog loan is the flagship product under Retail finance and offered to
customers who require higher loan amount in their individual capacity to meet
Their working capital requirements, expansion of business or purchase of machinery,
Inventories etc.
Loan Amount:
Customers can avail loan up to Rs.1,25,000/-
Rate of Interest:
22% per annum on reducing balance.
Tenure:
24 months.

Grameen Savaari Loan :

Purpose:
Grameen Savaari Loan is offered for customers for purchase of new two-wheelers,
Which will provide support in their income generation activity.
Loan Amount:
Customers can avail loan up to Rs.60,000/-
Rate of Interest:
22% per annum on reducing balance.
Tenure:
24 months.

Grameen Vikas Loan Purpose:

Grameen Vikas loan is a high ticket asset backed business loan, offered to
our customers who have high credit requirement for business expansion, inventory purchase etc.
Loan Amount:
Customers can avail loan up to Rs.5,00,000/- Rate of Interest:
22% per annum on reducing balance. Tenure:
Minimum 24 months to maximum 60 monthsdepending on the loan amount. Grameen Suvidha Loan
Purpose:
Grameen Suvidha loan are offered as intermediary loans to our customers to meet
additional needs and is usually given for the upkeep of assets or inventory related to business.
Loan Amount:
Customers can avail loan up 15% of sanctioned Udyog/Savaari loan amount. Rate of Interest:
20% per annum on reducing balance.Tenure:6 months.
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20
 Brief Introduction of Women Empowerment

Development is a process that signifies a state of evolvement, maturity, completeness, improvement and
positive change transiting to a desirable higher level of quality of life, as we know, women have the subordinate
status and position in the gender relationship, and therefore they experience social structural inequalities and
injustices in their everyday lives. This is the reason that women are given special treatment in the development
process and women’s development becomes the primeconcern in policies and programmers. It helps the women
to strengthen their capacities and overcome the barriers experienced by them because of their sex. A large
number of policies, programmers and projects are designed to raise the status of women in development
process. The women and development perspective looks at women in process and focuses on relations between
men and women. It recognizes both the productive and reproductive contributions of women to the society.

* Women’s Protection under Laws

Law is an important force of social change and ‘social engineering’ in its wider
framework. Various laws give protection to women as under: Protection of Women under Various Provisions of
the Constitution.

The preamble of the Indian constitution succinctly crystallizes and solemnly declares among other things;
“justice, social, economic and political” and “equality of status and of opportunity” which by implication
sought to equalize women. In order to ensure that legal safeguards actually reach women, national commission
for women was setup in 1992 with the responsibility of overseeing the working of constitutional safeguards for
women, reviewing laws and regulations in selected individual cases of violation of women’s rights and equality
for issuing appropriate directives to the concerned authorities.

Women’s Protection under Personal Laws

 The Hindu Marriage Act of 1955.
 Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956.
 Hindu Succession Act of 1956. Protection under Social Laws
 Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.
 The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987.
 Protection from Domestic Violence Bill 2001(doubt in year2001 or 2005). Protection of Women against
Sexual Harassment

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 The protection against sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Bill, 2005 Criminal Law
Amendment Act, 1983, known as Anti-Rape Law Amendment provides for Protection under Labor Laws.
Laws a Social Change

Legalization of Abortions

1) The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971.

2) Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act 1986:- 1).
3) Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques [Regulation and Prevention of Misuse] Act, 1994. National
Commission for Women

The national commission for women a statutory body, was set up under the national commission for
women act, 1990. The main task of the commission is to study and monitor all a matters relating to the
constitutional and legal safeguards provided for women and to review the existing legislations and suggest
amendments, wherever necessary.

Women's Positive and Negative Response creates Two Images of Indian Women Images of Indian Women:

Typical Indian woman rarely moves out of her home, and when she does, she covers her face with a
veil walking respectfully a few paces behind the man. She can neither read nor write. She owns no land or
assets, but labors on land and business owned by her husband, gamily, without her efforts ever being
recognized. She receives lower wages than men do for her toils when she work outside, and despite having an
income having no control over the way she like to spend.

Apart from working for wages, she is responsible for the care of her husband and children, in which
the man takes no part, but feels it his privilege to beat her in case the quality of work done is unsatisfactory. In
poor households her domestic tasks are almost always labor intensive requiring tremendous effort, several trips
to the far away community tap to fetch water, carrying heads loads of kerosene rations from the far-away ration
shop, cooking over coal wood stoves, scouring the utensils managing her brood of 4-5 children, etc. children
she bears while still relatively young, being married in most instances during her early teens, with no control
over her own fertility and the number of children she must produce. Birth take place largely within the
unhygienic precincts of her small home, assisted by a local but often untrained Dai.Odds are fiftyfifty that she
will be sent to school. Most certainly, she shall not study to the level of her brothers, shall attend school at
irregular intervals, staying back as a dutiful daughter to help her mother whenever required to do so care for her
younger brother-sister. She builds skills that can help her to confined to her role of procreating and child
rearing, she eats last and left over food after the husband, children and other family eat. Her health will be the
last to receive attention.

Modified Global-Indian Woman is displaying the ‘shift’ in the stereotyping of the Image of the Indian
woman. The ‘shift’ in the image of the Indian woman is a result Of the socio- economic transition- a period of
22
liberalization of the economy and Apparent encouragement of private investment in industry and infrastructure,
inducing Sustained high growth in the service sector. Thus, there was growing the emergence of a ‘new’ middle
class, which was essentially urban, with unlimited consumerist Aspirations, desires and dreams- a class, which
was soon to culminate in the present- Day ‘dot.com generation’ belonging to a global community. Thus, over
the last thirty Years or so, some percentages of women have asserted their development.
According to the estimate of employment in organized public and private sectors’, Published by the national
human development report 2001, (planning commission, Government of India), the number of women
employed in the public sector in 1990 Was 22.50 lakhs in 1990 to 1999.

Due to equity and equality enshrined in the constitution, women have found place in The opportunities
given citizens in educational and economic fields. With more and More women going in for ‘paidwork’ outside
of the ‘private space’ of the family, a New image of the middleclass woman started dominating the cultural
milieu of Emerging consumer capitalism. This image is that of an independent citizen of India- Intelligent,
decisive and an active agent in the micro narrative of the consumer Capitalist economy that is in constant
transition under the project of globalization.

Therefore, the represented image of the Indian woman no longer remains that of an Overtly traditional
Hindu (Hindi) housewife relegated to the private spheres of the Feudal family, and existing as the living
embodiment of codes and notions of ‘priority’, ‘pativarta’and ‘sati’.

But the gender politics behind these advertisements demands that the woman of the Household be kept in
good health so that she might smoothly perform her duties and Ensure that there is no disorder in the
comfortable lifestyle of the other members of. The family who are ‘destined’ to enjoy the fruits of her labor.
This is notoriously encapsulated in the micro narrative of the advertisement for ‘Moov’ pain
relief apointment-with the copy line ‘kamar fit to parivar fit’ (riddance of backache for the
housewife makes a happy family). At last there is recognition to her gender role. However, globalization and
modernization reconstructs the image of the woman exactly to that extent of which she is required certain socio-
economic roles necessary for their structuring of the national economy, without any violation to the existing
gender ideology.

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Objective of the Study

24
 Objective of the study:-

1. To find out the credit availability for the women of the group from the difference sources.

2. To examine the social and economic aspects that affect women empowerment.

3. To suggest strategies to microfinance Institute to the improve their financing scheme to the

women customer.

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 Limitations of the Study:-

1. The study was limited only the area of katol region in Nagpur district of Maharashtra.

2. It was a time consuming process as most of the respondents were illiterate and therefore Non-disclosure
of accurate data on internet.

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Review of Literature

27
 REVIEW OF LITERATURE:-

Lokhande’s (2012) : Micro financing through women self-help groups and itsSocio-economic impact- a
case study of Konkan region of Maharastra” The studyInferred that group association and access to financial
services leadsto positiveChanges among group members in terms of their socio-economic empowerment.In
addition, the study advocated that along with micro-finance access, SHGs mustProvide advance training
opportunities to the members in preferred occupations, healthAnd environment. He reiterated empowerment
would remain a distant dream unless Effective training was imparted.

Kondal’s (2014): Paper confines itself to study women empowerment through SHGs in Andhra
Pradesh. In the study simple statistical tools are adopted. Based on the analysis of Women empowerment
through SHGs in Gajwel, the major finding of the study is that there is A positive impact of SHGs on women
empowerment in Gajwel Mandal of Medak District in Andhra Pradesh.

Dhaiya et al. (2014) : In their study attempt to evaluate the level of women’s economic Empowerment
through SHG i.e., income, expenditure and saving of the member after joining SHG. The study was conducted
in Sirsa district. The study is based mainly on primary data Collected through well-structured scheduled and pre
tested survey. For analysis of the study Average and percentage method was used. The study revealed that
SHGs positively improved The economic empowerment of women because of in both blocks the SHGs
member’s income Has increased after joining the SHGs and the family expenditure of SHGs members has also
Increased in both blocks due to positive change in the SHG member’s income.

Mishra (2014): Examines the pre-SHG and post-SHG status of rural SHG members in Puri District of
Odisha. On the basis of primary data analysis, the study finds that SHGs have not Only produced tangible assets
and improved the living conditions of the members, but has Also helped in changing much of their social
outlook and attitudes. In the study area, SHGs Have served the cause of women empowerment, social solidarity
and socio-economic Betterment of the rural poor.

28
 Mishra’s (2014) : Purpose of the research is to advance a new understanding of gender as a Routine
accomplishment embedded in everyday interaction to do so entail a critical Assessment of existing perspective
on gender. The present study addresses women Empowerment through micro enterprises in Odisha. It based on
the Condition, family Background, education level, and size of the family. Descriptive Statistics including
Frequencies, percentage, mean and standard deviations were carried out to draw meaningful Interpretation of
the results and to find out the reasons for joining the micro enterprises.

This Paper examines the women empowerment through SHGs and also explains the current Position of
women empowerment in India. The result of the study revealed that micro Enterprises programme have had
greater impact on both social and economic aspects of the Rural women in Odisha.

The paper by Eswaraiah (2014): Is an empirical attempt focusing on women empowerment Through
self-help groups in drought -prone Ananthapuramu district in Andhra Pradesh. The Findings of the study
establish the SHGs have made a positive impact on women Empowerment especially in the spheres of social
status, economic empowerment and Decision-making on various aspects of family matters.

Long kumer et al. (2014): Makes an attempt to find out the characteristics and levels of Women’s
empowerment through SHGs. The present study was conducted in Medziphema Rural development block under
Dimapur district of Nagaland. A total of twenty-one SHGs Were randomly for the study purpose. A well-
structured schedule was used to collect the data From the respondents by personal interview method. The study
revealed characteristic Features of women’s empowerment which was evident in form of increase in income
level, Improvement in skills and knowledge and increased capacity to meet daily household Expenses. Majority
of the respondents exhibited medium level of empowerment.

Baily (2014): Paper deals specifically with four male leaders in a village where the women Had been
involved in an SHG for a period for six years. The women actively engaged with The gatekeepers of the
community and continued with the programme even after funding for The programme had ended. The data
highlight the complex nature of male/female Relationships, and the dichotomies that exist for men as they
reflect on their own power Within families, their perceptions of women’s participation in SHGs, and their
awareness of Authority within their communities as it pertains to women’s agency

29
 Selvakumar (2015) : Studied women empowerment through self-help groups in Krishnagiri
District of Tamil Nadu. The information required for the study has been collected from both The primary and
secondary sources A multistage random sampling method has been followed. Average and percentage analysis
was carried out to draw meaningful interpretation of the Results. Garret ranking technique was used to find the
reasons for joining the Self-help group. Factor analysis was used to measure and determine the relationship
between the observed Variables. The results of the study revealed that the SHGs have had greater impact on
both Economic and social aspects of the beneficiaries...

Dr. IndrajitGoswami Et.all (2018) : The Role Of Self Help Groups In Women Empowerment In
Maharashtra: An Empirical Analysis”, sated that There is Insufficient evidence on the extent of transformation
on their mental and economic Independence outside their activity groups. Without such transformation SHGs
will Not be able to make the women realize their full potential. The present paper though Limited in its scope
attempts to draw insights on the various factors influencing Women empowerment.

Sukanya M (2018) : Improved Life Style of Members through Self-Help Groups” Stated that A Self
Help Group (SHG) is a village-based financial intermediary Committee usually composed of 10–20 local
women or men. A mixed group is Generally not preferred. Most self-help groups are located in India, though
SHGs can Be found in other countries, especially in South Asia and Southeast Asia. Members Make small
regular savings contributions over a few months until there is enough Capital in the group to begin lending.
Funds may then be lent backto the members or To others in the village for any purpose. In India, many SHGs
are ‘linked’ to banks for The delivery of micro-credit.

30
 Research Methodology

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

A) RESEARCH DESIGN

31
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:-

Poverty and Unemployment go hand in hand in most developing countries. In India, the financial
institutions have not been able to reach the rural sector especially in the unorganised sector. In developing
countries, women play a pivotal role as risk managers and drivers of development, particularly in regions of
severe poverty. Peoples’ participation in credit delivery and recovery and linking of formal credit institutions to
borrowers through the SHGs have been recognised as a supplementary mechanism for providing credit support
to the rural poor. Most of the SHGs members do believe that finance is their major problem. It is true that
unfavourable event in business will lead to financial crisis. Women suffer from illiteracy, lack of awareness,
poor healthcare and unemployment. This is particularly true in the rural areas and in cases of main weaker
sections of society like scheduled caste and scheduletribes. In the recent times, women have contributed to a
great extent towards the development of the economy but not many are aware of this that they have the
potential. The recent development has been in the entrepreneurial activities undertaken by them. Therefore,
empowerment of women is the only remedy to the problem faced in not only India but also other developing
countries.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY:-

Why India is still called as a Developing Country? – Poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition, unemployment,
lack of awareness in women have been the major reasons. In the recent times, the woman has contributed to a
great extent towards the development of the economy but not many are aware of this that they have the
potential. The recent development has been in the entrepreneurial activities undertaken by them.
In the light of the above observation, the study focuses on the awareness of functioning of registered
Self-Help Groups among women in rural areas of Maharashtra and such programmes being Stree Shakti and
Swashakti Programme funded by the State Government of Maharashtra. The proposed project is to study the
proportion of women population in rural areas who have the potential to become entrepreneurs but not aware of
the financial assistance provided by the Government of Maharashtra through registered Self-Help Groups. This
in turn would help the Government to know the proportion of women who are already aware of the financial
assistance provided by the Government, which has been their ladder to become successful in their
entrepreneurial activities.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The present study makes an attempt to assess the motivational factor in getting involved in women in group
activities. The study covers opinions towards the process of economic empowerment and the changes observed
on personal lives of women. The study also examines the activities performed by the women for wellbeing in
the society along with the economic activities and the outcomes observed. The study covers the Maharashtra.

32
 B) Data collection method

 Sources of data:

Data are facts figure and other relevant material, past and present, serving as a basic study analysis. The
universe of the study undertaking in Katol region of Nagpur district. And the study of research is based on open
ended.

A) Primary data :

The primary data collected by using prepared interview schedules and the secondary
data was obtained from various published articles, records, book , journals, magazines.

B) Secondary Data :
Secondary data sources like catalogue of the company product range book of the
company, various internet sites and Literature Reviews have been used.sampling design.

C) Sampling method

 Instrument : Questionnaire

 Sample design : Convenience sampling will be used in study

33
 Sample size : the size of sample used in this study is 50.

 Sample unit : sample unit are customer

C) Hypothesis

 There is no remarkable increase in income of women after joining SHG of the company.

 There is remarkable increase in income of women after joining SHGs.

34
Data Analysis &
Interpretation

35
Table no. 1 : Classification on the Basis of Respondent’s Age Group

Age groups No. Of Respondents Percentage

Below 30 5 10
Between 30-40 30 60
Between 40-50 10 20
Above 50 5 10
Total 50 100

Interpretation
The above table and graph analysis represents that 10% of the respondents are below 30 age group, 60% of the
respondents are between 30-40 age group. 20% of the Respondents are between 40-5 0 age group , 10% of the
respondents are above 50 age Group. Its interprets that Majority of the respondents are between 30-40 age
group (60%).

36
Table No: 1: 2: Classification on the Basis of Respondent’s Educational Qualification

Education Qualifications No. Of Respondents Percentage

Primary 25 60
Ssc 10 20
Graduate 5 10
Other 10 10
Total 50 100

Interpretation
The above table and graph analysis represents that 60% of the respondents educational qualification is Primary ,
20% of the respondents educational qualification is SSLC , 10% of the respondents are belong to graduate. 20%
of the respondents are belong to others. Its interprets that Majority of the respondents educational qualification

37
are belong to Primary (60%)

Table 1:3 Classification on the respondents shows Belong to Area

Particular No of Respondents Percentage

Rural 50 100
Urban/Town area 0 0
Total 50 100

Interpretation
The above table and graph analysis represents that 100% of the respondents are living In Rural Area.

38
Table no 1:4 Classification on the Basis of Respondent’s Designation.

Interpretation
The above table and graph analysis represents that 20% of the respondents are Self employment occupation ,
60% of the respondents are House wife , 20% of the respondents are Business ,
Its interprets that Majority of the respondents are house wife.(60%).

39
Table 1:5 Classification on the Basis of Respondent’s Marital Status

Married status No. Of Respondents Percentage

Married 40 80
Unmarried 10 20
Total 50 100

Interpretation
The above table and graph analysis represents that 80% of the respondents are Married, 20% of the respondents
are Unmarried. Its interprets that majority of the respondents are married (80%) .

40
Table 1:6 Table shows Number of earning family members

Particular No. Of Respondents Percentage

One 20 40
Two 25 50
Three 5 10
Four and Above 0 0
Total 50 100

Interpretation
The above table and graph analysis represents that 40% of the respondents areBelongs to one member earning
in family ,50% of the respondents are belongs to Two Member earning in family , 10% of the respondents are
belongs to three memberEarning in family.Its interprets that majority of the respondents are belong to Two
member earning in Family (50%).

41
Table 1:7 Classification on the Basis Respondent’s how Monthly Income

Particular No. Of Respondents Percentage

Less than 5000 27 54
5000 - 10000 15 30
10000 - 15000 6 12
Above 15000 2 4
Total 50 100

Interpretation
The above table and graph analysis represents that 54% of the respondents monthly Income belongs to less than
5,000. 30% of the respondents monthly income belongs To between 5,000- 10000, 12% of the respondents
monthly income belongs 10000,-15,000 , 4% of the respondents monthly income belongs to above 15000.Its
interprets that Majority of the respondents monthly income belongs to less than 5,000. (54%).

42
Table1:8 shows that respondents member of any Micro Finance

Particular No. Of Respondents Percentage

Yes 45 90
No 5 10
Total 50 100

Interpretation:
The above table and graph analysis represents that 90% of the respondents are in
Micro Finance , 10% of the respondents are not in Micro Finance.
Its interprets that Majority of the respondents are in Micro Finance (90%).
43
Table 1: 9 Respondents are attending every meeting of Micro Finance.

Particular No. Of Respondents Percentage

Yes 35 70
No 15 30
Total 50 100

Interpretation :

The above table and graph analysis represents that 70% of the respondents are
attending every meeting of Micro Finance 30% of the respondents are not attending
every meeting of Micro Finance.
Its interprets that Majority of the respondents are attending every meeting of Micro
Finance 70%.

44
Table: 10 Respondents are taken loam Micro finance.

Particular No. Of Respondents Percentage

Yes 45 90
No 5 10
Total 50 100

Interpretation:

The above table and graph analysis represents that 90% of the respondents are taken
loan from micro finance, 10% of the respondents are not taken loan from micro
finance.
Its interprets that Majority of the respondents are taken loan from micro finance
90%.

45
Finding & Conclusion

46
 Findings

FINDINGS

 Seniority of the respondents are between 30-40 age groups (60%).

 Seniority of the respondents educational qualification are belong to Primary
(60%).
 100% of the respondents are living in Rural Area.
 Seniority of the respondents are house wife.(60%).
 Seniority of the respondents are married (80%).
 Seniority of the respondents are belong to Two member earning in family
(50%).
 Seniority of the respondents monthly income belongs to less than 5,000.
(54%).
 Seniority of the respondents are in Micro Finance (90%).
 Seniority of the respondents are attending every meeting of Micro Finance
(70%).
 Seniority of the respondents are Stated once in month & once in fortnight the
periodicity of group meeting (40%).
 Seniority of the respondents have not attended training program me (60%).
 Seniority of the respondents opined weekly their saving in micro finance
(40%).
 Seniority of the respondents are taken loan from micro finance (90%).
 Seniority of the respondents are not interested to start business (80%).
 Seniority of the respondents deal any other commodities through SHGs (40%).
 Seniority of the respondents are 5,000,1-10000 turnover per month for the
business activities (60%).
 Seniority of the respondents are 5,000,1-10000 turnover per month for the
business activities (60%)

47
 Conclusion

 Women is an important part of society and her empowerment is must of development. The new paradise
has thrown many challenges to subjecting many nations to undergo Change cutting across their accepted
tradition and culture.
 New issues have to be communicate to effect social and economical progress of our nation.The most
important one is Womens empowerment through skill development programs in rural areas.
 The empowerment of rural women leads to benefit not only to individual women and there women
groups but also to the families and the community as a whole. One thing is clear that microcredit alone
will not completely to empower women orimprove their lives of women who have been abuse for ages
by the traditional male-control society in Maharashtra.Necessary microfinance has many limitations and,
thus, cannot contribute effectively to empower poor women.
 The capacity building ofthese poor women is necessary to enjoy the empowerment. To increase
empowermentthrough the capacity of building, microcredit must be supply by a particular amount of
skills or training and some educational opportunities for these poor women. Note that we refer to life
time education opportunities rather than traditional school-based education.
 Microfinance programs do provide these life time educational activities such as discussions of various
home finance skills, women’s health and gender equity for participants. Social and political awareness
of these women must be increases, and give training for group members on entrepreneurship must be
plan with the unified approach by Mfis and other NGOs. Mgis should regularly monitor that allocated
loans to women are being used for its proper cause, and women have full control on it.
 Maharashtra Government should also take a complete program, supposesetting up a separate complete
training and education unit for these poor women to increase their capacity building and productivity.
Various social development activities such as adult education, for technical and vocational trainings are
must be provided to these women to enhance women’s income-generating activities that in turn will
empower them.
 Therefore, new models of microfinance should be grow where poor women should be looked as
entrepreneurs as well as participant to empower them in an effective manner.

48
 SUGGESTIONS

 As seniority of the members of the self -help groups are unlettered, these self help groups can take up
the initiative to give minimum education to raise their state.
 In order to expand employment government and NGOs should come up with self-help group programs
to infuse entrepreneurship among the rural women of Maharashtra.
 For the analysis self help groups have lead to growth in employment as well as income among the rural
women. for these programs have to be expanded to cover illiterate women in the urban areas.
 very less amount of respondents stated that financial assistance was taken for educating their children.
The new financial schemes should be made easier so that many rural women can take it up for educating
their children. This way ignorance can be eliminate. The
 SHGs groups should take up the initiative to educate the rural family members as to how women
contribute equally to the family income and they should not be confined to the house. Is
 based on the analysis the members for the self-help groups have donate towards the rural
development.The level of the awareness of the working of self-groups should be increased among the
area of rural population.
 Self help groups should also promote the various products etc. produce by its members by conducting
for showing in rural and urban areas.Now for this initiative will increase the awareness level as well as
give the rural women member a wider exposure. For
 this is in turn will increase the employment, income and economic development of the rural areas
thereby reducing the regional variance of income and wealth in the country.

49
Bibliography

50
 Bibliography

www.google.com

www.grameenkoota.com

www.womenempowerment.com

51
Annexure

52
Pictures of enumerator administering the scheduled among the members of self help group’s in their homes.

53
54
Loan form

55
 A) Questionnaire

As a part of my academic curriculum, I have undertaken a dissertation work entitled.

1. Name :

2. Address:

3. Age:

a) Below 30 years ( )
b) 30-40 years ( )
c) 40-50 years ( )
d) Above 50 years ( )

4. Qualification:

a)Primary ( )
b) Matriculation ( )
c) Degree ( )
56
d) Others ( )

5. Area of residence:

a) Rural area ( )
b) Urban/town area ( )

6. Occupation:
a) Self employment ( )
b) House wife ( )
c) Business ( )
d) Any other ( )

7. Marital status:

a) Married ( )
b) Unmarried ( )

8. Number of earning family members:

a) One ( )
b) Two ( )
c) Other ( )

9. Income (monthly):

a) Less than Rs.5,000 ( )

b) Rs.5,001-Rs.10,000 ( )
c) Rs. 10,001-Rs.15,000 ( )
d) Rs.15,001 and above ( )

10. Are you a member of any Micro Finance:

a) Yes ( )
b) No ( )

11. If Yes, Name the Company Name ___________________

57
12. How many member in your group:_____________________

13. Are you attending every meeting of Micro Finance :

a) Yes ( )
b) No ( )

14. State the periodicity of group meeting:

a) Once in month ( )
b) Once in fortnight ( )
c) Once in week ( )

15. Have you attended any training programme

a) Yes ( )
b) No ( )

16. Details of savings in Micro Finance:

a) Monthly ( )
b) Fortnight ( )
c) Weekly ( )

17. Are you taken loan from Micro Finance

a) Yes ( )
b) No ( )

58
18. Which institute providing loans to Micro

Finance:___________________________

19. If yes, maintain the amount of the loan taken Rs. :_______________________

20. What is the interest rate:_________________________________

21. Are you interested to start any business:

a) Yes ( )
b) No ( )

22. What is the nature of commodities you deal through SHGs

a) Durable ( )
b) Retail packets ( )
c) Local commodities ( )
d) Any other ( )

59