IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/joiaen/v13y2024i1d10.1186_s13731-024-00419-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Transforming rural women’s lives in India: the impact of microfinance and entrepreneurship on empowerment in Self-Help Groups

Author

Listed:
  • Ashwini Pandhare

    (Tata Institute of Social Sciences)

  • Praveen Naik Bellampalli

    (Central University of Karnataka)

  • Neelam Yadava

    (Tata Institute of Social Sciences)

Abstract

The study investigates how microfinance interventions and the entrepreneurial engagement of Self-Help Group (SHGs) members impact women’s social and economic empowerment in rural communities. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data analysis and qualitative insights gathered through surveys, interviews, and case studies. The study’s findings demonstrated a notably positive and moderately significant impact of microfinance and entrepreneurial engagement on the social, economic, and psychological dimensions of women’s empowerment. Furthermore, the inclusion of case studies provided evidence that microfinance activities and entrepreneurship involvement have substantially empowered women across various domains, such as increasing financial independence, enhancing participation in decision-making processes, fostering social networks and support, and boosting their overall self-confidence and well-being. These insights emphasise the transformative potential of microfinance initiatives in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in diverse socio-economic contexts.

Suggested Citation

  • Ashwini Pandhare & Praveen Naik Bellampalli & Neelam Yadava, 2024. "Transforming rural women’s lives in India: the impact of microfinance and entrepreneurship on empowerment in Self-Help Groups," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:joiaen:v:13:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1186_s13731-024-00419-y
    DOI: 10.1186/s13731-024-00419-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1186/s13731-024-00419-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1186/s13731-024-00419-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Dina Modestus Nziku & Colette Henry, 2020. "Policies for supporting women entrepreneurs in developing countries: the case of Tanzania," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 10(1), pages 38-58, December.
    2. Shagufta Tariq Khan & Mohd Abass Bhat & Mohi-Ud-Din Sangmi, 2022. "Can microfinance-backed entrepreneurship be a holistic empowerment tool for women? Empirical evidence from Kashmir Valley, India," Journal of Business and Socio-economic Development, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 2(2), pages 117-136, January.
    3. Ranjula Bali Swain & Fan Yang Wallentin, 2012. "Factors empowering women in Indian self-help group programs," International Review of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(4), pages 425-444, April.
    4. Giorgos Meramveliotakis & Manolis Manioudis, 2021. "Sustainable Development, COVID-19 and Small Business in Greece: Small Is Not Beautiful," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-15, September.
    5. Arindam Laha & Pravat Kumar Kuri, 2014. "Measuring the Impact of Microfinance on Women Empowerment: A Cross Country Analysis with Special Reference to India," International Journal of Public Administration, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(7), pages 397-408, June.
    6. Manolis Manioudis & Giorgos Meramveliotakis, 2022. "Broad strokes towards a grand theory in the analysis of sustainable development: a return to the classical political economy," New Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(5), pages 866-878, September.
    7. Deininger, Klaus & Liu, Yanyan, 2013. "Economic and Social Impacts of an Innovative Self-Help Group Model in India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 149-163.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kumar, Neha & Raghunathan, Kalyani & Arrieta, Alejandra & Jilani, Amir & Chakrabarti, Suman & Menon, Purnima & Quisumbing, Agnes R., 2019. "Social networks, mobility, and political participation: The potential for women’s self-help groups to improve access and use of public entitlement schemes in India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 28-41.
    2. Abebe Techan Tolossa & Manjit Singh & Raj Kumar Gautam, 2024. "Unveiling the Nexus: the crucial role of competitive advantage in bridging entrepreneurial marketing practices and sustainable firm performance in small and medium enterprises," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 1-24, December.
    3. Kasimu Sendawula & Peter Turyakira & Godfrey Akileng & Bagire Vincent, 2024. "Environmental knowledge, regulatory compliance mechanisms, and environmental sustainability practices of manufacturing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Uganda," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 1-19, December.
    4. Omika Bhalla Saluja & Priyanka Singh & Harit Kumar, 2023. "Barriers and interventions on the way to empower women through financial inclusion: a 2 decades systematic review (2000–2020)," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-14, December.
    5. Kumar, Neha & Raghunathan, Kalyani & Arrieta, Alejandra & Jilani, Amir Hamza & Chakrabarti, Suman & Menon, Purnima & Quisumbing, Agnes R., 2018. "Social networks, mobility, and political participation: The potential for women’s self-help groups to improve access and use of public entitlement schemes in India," IFPRI discussion papers 1751, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    6. Bhuiyan, Muhammad Faress & Ivlevs, Artjoms, 2019. "Micro-entrepreneurship and subjective well-being: Evidence from rural Bangladesh," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 625-645.
    7. K. Gayathri Reddy & Varsha, P. S. & L. N. Sudheendra Rao & Amit Kumar, 2019. "Exploring dimension, perceived individual tension and capacity building measure of women empowerment in India," Asian Journal of Empirical Research, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 9(5), pages 111-131, May.
    8. Eduardo Rodrigues Sanguinet & Francisco de Borja García-García, 2023. "Rural-Urban Linkages: Regional Financial Business Services’ Integration into Chilean Agri-Food Value Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-22, July.
    9. Hui Wang & Yao Xu, 2024. "Optimized Decision-Making for Multi-Market Green Power Transactions of Electricity Retailers under Demand-Side Response: The Chinese Market Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-16, May.
    10. Pravee Kruachottikul & Pinnaree Tea-makorn & Poomsiri Dumrongvute & Solaphat Hemrungrojn & Natawut Nupairoj & Ornsiree Junchaya & Sukrit Vinayavekhin, 2024. "MediGate: a MedTech product innovation development process from university research to successful commercialization within emerging markets," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 1-43, December.
    11. Izabela Zabielska & Grażyna Kowalewska, 2024. "Employment of Migrants as a Response to the Needs of Entrepreneurs in Rural Border Regions—Examples from Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-15, June.
    12. Jean-Marie Baland & Rohini Somanathan & Lore Vandewalle, 2019. "Socially Disadvantaged Groups and Microfinance in India," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 67(3), pages 537-569.
    13. Francisco Núñez & Elías Albornoz & Mariella Gutiérrez & Antonio Zumelzu, 2022. "Socially Sustainable Accessibility to Goods and Services in the Metropolitan Area of Concepción, Chile, Post-COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-22, October.
    14. Songtao He & Shuigen Yang & Amar Razzaq & Sahar Erfanian & Azhar Abbas, 2023. "Mechanism and Impact of Digital Economy on Urban Economic Resilience under the Carbon Emission Scenarios: Evidence from China’s Urban Development," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-20, March.
    15. Yingzhu Yang & Lexiang Zhao & Feng Cui, 2022. "How Does Public Health Investment Affect Subjective Well-Being? Empirical Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-19, April.
    16. Regina Moczadlo & Harald Strotmann & Jürgen Volkert, 2015. "Corporate Contributions to Developing Health Capabilities," Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(4), pages 549-566, November.
    17. Ginevra Malta & Fulvio Plescia & Stefania Zerbo & Maria Gabriella Verso & Serena Matera & Alenka Skerjanc & Emanuele Cannizzaro, 2024. "Work and Environmental Factors on Job Burnout: A Cross-Sectional Study for Sustainable Work," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-12, April.
    18. Donghong Wu & Yiren Chen, 2023. "Digital Inclusive Finance Development and Labor Productivity: Based on a Capital-Deepening Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-17, June.
    19. Olga Gorelkina & Ioanna Grypari & Erin Hengel, 2019. "One strike and you’re out! The Master Lever’s effect on senatorial policy-making," Working Papers 201906, University of Liverpool, Department of Economics.
    20. Zuzanna Kłos-Adamkiewicz & Elżbieta Szaruga & Agnieszka Gozdek & Magdalena Kogut-Jaworska, 2023. "Links between the Energy Intensity of Public Urban Transport, Regional Economic Growth and Urbanisation: The Case of Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-25, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:joiaen:v:13:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1186_s13731-024-00419-y. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.