• Bhajan Chandra Barman

The present study is an attempt to evaluate the level of women economic empowerment income, expenditure and savings of the SHG members after joining microfinance programme. The study has been conducted in two blocks of Nadia district, West Bengal. These two blocks are Ranaghat-II and Chakdah. The study is mainly based on primary data collected through interview and well-structured scheduled. To analysis the data, average, percentage, ‘Z’ test have been used. The present study reveals that microfinance programme has been able to improve the economic empowerment of women in the study area. It is found that in both the blocks the SHG members’ income have increased after joining the microfinance programme. The family expenditure of SHG members’ has also increased in both the blocks due to increase in income. After joining the microfinance programme savings of the members have increased. Thus, it can be concluded that microfinance programme plays an important role for economic development of the rural women in the study area.

Self-Help Group, Women Empowerment, Microfinance, Self-employment.

"Economic Empowerment through Microfinance: A Comparative Study", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.4, Issue 8, page no.224-228, August-2017, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1708041.pdf

"Economic Empowerment through Microfinance: A Comparative Study", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.4, Issue 8, page no. pp224-228, August-2017, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1708041.pdf