Impact Assessment of Two Women Empowerment Programs: a Micro Finance & Livelihood Based Perspective in West Bengal, India

In India plethora of grassroots experiences abound which dovetail livelihood and micro credit related activities around Self Help Group (SHG) paradigm. The SHG is the organisational means for channelling credit and imparting training for micro enterprise for women living in disadvantaged livelihood environment. The costal district in West Bengal, India is constrained in many of the livelihood opportunities. The first study deals with the parameters in SHG functioning and how SHG community was accommodated in Micro Finance and livelihood development. The other study deals with the livelihood impact of a well established Micro Finance Programs in otherwise well endowed farm sector. Here the women community in developed farm sector is found to have used the micro finance support to its livelihood advantage. This book will help the grassroots livelihood practitioners in devising micro finance based livelihood programs.