Improving Economic Position of Women through Microfinance: Case of a Backward Area, Mayurbhanj-Orissa, India

This paper aims at assessing the potential of microfinance in extending credit facility to the rural poor in general, and women in particular, and examining how far such a programme has succeeded in ameliorating poverty in Orissa, the poorest state in the Indian Union. It is an attempt to arrest two individual but mutually dependent issues as regards the role of microfinance: has it succeeded in extending financial services to the poor women and has it influenced their economic condition and welfare significantly? Despite various targeted policy measures little success has been achieved in reducing the poverty level in the backward state of Orissa. The other alternative, microfinance, with its oft-repeated success story, has not made much headway in the state. The borrowers are not able to utilize the funds properly so as to help themselves out of the poverty level. The study makes some suggestions in this aspect and calls for a holistic approach encompassing financial assistance, entrepreneurial guidance and stage-wise supervision along with extensive awareness about benefits of joining a group.