Micro-Finance for Women : Necessities, Systems and Perceptions

Contents: Preface and acknowledgement. 1. Women micro-entrepreneurs and their credit needs. 2. Micro-finance for women micro-entrepreneurs--concept and practice. 3. Review of literature, objectives and research methodology. 4. New Vistas in micro-finance for women Self Help Groups--role of Uttar Banga Kshetriya Gramin Bank. 5. Activities of SHGs, perceptions of women micro entrepreneurs towards SHGs and activities and perceptions of UBKG Bank Managers. 6. Impact of micro-finance schemes on women micro-entrepreneurs--economic and social indices. 7. Conclusion and policy implications. Select bibliography. Appendices. Index.

"Micro-finance has been holding the interest of researchers, scholars and practitioners for some time now because of its development implications and impact on women empowerment. Women micro-entrepreneurs in addition to facing serious bottlenecks like male domination and social taboos also suffer from dearth of capital to finance their economic activities. Micro-finance as a major development strategy provides a practical approach to attack the vices of poverty, especially for women.

The book deals with:

Concepts of micro-finance, systems of micro-finance delivery, i.e., the savings and credit linkages of Self Help Groups with banks, different linkage models.
Activities of institutions like the NABARD and SIDBI in linking groups and the features of the SGSY launched by the government.
The role played by a Regional Rural Bank in North Bengal in formation and linking of SHGs.
The perception of women micro-entrepreneurs towards micro-financing schemes and SHGs, their activities in SHGs, their problems and constraints in dealing with banks and role and perception of bank officials.
Impact of micro-finance schemes on women using socio-economic indicators.
Policy implications for better administration of Micro-finance schemes.

The book aims at attracting readership among:

Micro-finance practitioners.
Government agencies engaged in micro-financing activities.
NGOs.
Banks and funding agencies.
Students of micro-finance and developmental studies as a supplementary text.
Policy makers." (jacket)