Microfinance and Women Empowerment: Performance of Rashtriya Mahila Kosh in North-East India

Contents: Foreword. Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Glimpses of earlier works. 3. Methodological framework. 4. SHGs under RMK. 5. Financial performance of the SHGs. 6. RMK and women empowerment. 7. Understanding the constraints. 8. Conclusions and recommendations. Bibliography. Index. Microfinance or more specifically microcredit through self-help groups is one of the important instruments for bringing improvement in livelihood for the people who do not have any collateral to be eligible for formal credit. Its role in rural development has been studied in many developing countries and accepted by the scholars. Evidences are also present on how microfinance has empowered people, especially poor women in the society. But the spread of microfinance in North Eastern states has not been eye catching despite the region having suitable situation for it. This book presents the progress of Rashtriya Mahila Kosh in the North Eastern states of India. The chapters cover the saving, lending and repayment performance of microfinance, its role in women empowerment and what are the constraints faced by the self help groups and the group members in the region.…