Role of Utkarsh Microfinance Institution in the area of Women Empowerment

Women are the most crucial elements of the social structure and are playing a pivotal role in the socioeconomic scenario of Allahabad District. Microfinance has come to play a major role in many gender and development strategies because of its direct relationship to both poverty alleviation and to the empowerment of women. Microfinance programs like the Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) in India have been promoted for their positive economic impact and the belief that they empower women. The survey was conducted on 100 respondents from Twenty JLGs of Utkarsh Microfinance Institution in Allahabad District, and the analysis was done to study the empowerment of women through microfinance. The results strongly demonstrate that on an average, there is a significant increase in women empowerment of the Joint Liability Group members of Utkarsh Microfinance Institution.