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An Evaluation of Brac Micro Finance for Women Empowerment in Dumki Upazilla of Patuakhali District.

M. M. Hossain
Professor
Depertment of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was undertaken to evaluate BRAC micro finance program for women empowerment. Data were collected from 80 women randomly by using interview schedule from the two selected unions of Dumki upazilla under Patuakhali district. Women had mostly primary (32 per cent) and secondary (28 per cent) level education. Average annual household income of the respondent was estimated at Tk. 58450. It was observed that women had moderate influence in almost all the aspects of decision-making. Most of the women (45) opined that they frequently visit their own sadar upazilla. Women participation is highest in casting vote (rank 1) and lowest in participation in village arbitration (rank 7). Notable changes have been taken place in case of financial and social capital. Improvements were observed to be relatively lower in case of human capital and land resources. This study reveals that most of the women (61.25 per cent) had low empowerment while 5 per cent had very low empowerment and 33.75 per cent had medium empowerment and no one was in high empowerment after using BRAC micro finance.

Keywords: BRAC, Micro finance, Women empowerment

Location: Dumki upazilla under Patuakhakli disrtrict

Start Date: 01-06-2009

End Date: 30-06-2009

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Credit

Objectives:

1.To identify the socio-economic condition of the women participating BRAC program in the study area.

2.To determine the extent of women empowerment due to the BRAC micro finance program.

Methodology:

A preliminary survey was conducted by the researcher in Dumki upazilla under Patuakhakli disrtrict to gather primary information. Labukhali and Angaria unions were purposively selected because of the existence a considerable number of women participating BRAC micro finance program. A total number of 80 women who have already used micro finance were randomly selected from the 802 women borrowers list collected from BRAC office in Dumki. Data were collected during 01 June to 30 June 2009 by interviewing the sampled women using interview schedules. The dependent variable of the study, the empowerment of the women taken loan from BRAC was measured by computing four dimensions, namely decision making ability, mobility, participation in social and political activities, access to asset and resources.Participation in decision making of a respondent was measured by asking eight questions related to making decisions in her family. A respondent was asked to indicate her extent of participation in household decision against each of the statement along with a 4 point continuum: full influence (fully own decision), moderate influence (decision mainly taken by discussion with husband and other family members), low influence and no influence (no participation), while weightages assigned to these responses were 3, 2, 1 and 0 respectively. Decision Making Index (DMI) for each event was calculated by using the obtained decision-making participation score and it was computed by using the following formula:Decision Making Index (DMI) = DM_fx 3 + DM_mx 2 + DM_dx 1 + DM_nx 0

Where,

DM_f= Total number of respondents expressed full decision making ability for a statement;

DM_m = Total number of respondents expressed moderate decision making ability for a statement;

DM_d = Total number of respondents expressed low decision making ability for a statement;

DM_n = Total number of respondents expressed no decision making ability for a statement.

Thus DMI could be ranged from 0 to 240 while ‘0’ indicating no participation and 240 indicating full participation. Similar procedures were followed for measuring other indices.

Source of Information: J. Patuakhali Sci. and Tech. Univ. 2010, 2(1):71-78

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

This study shows that women have achieved some sort of improvement in different aspects. The women who have already used BRAC micro finance are now actively participating in case of household decision-making. They are now going outside from home for meeting different purposes. Though social and political participation is still in low level in Bangladesh, women participation in some social and political activities such as casting votes, participation in marriage and invitation are quite satisfactory. Presently the women are very much conscious in casting their votes. BRAC micro finance has played role to increase in some extent different types of asset and resource of the respondent households. But low level empowerment of women in some cases is not satisfactory for the advancement of our society as well as the economy. So necessary steps should be taken by the government to ensure the social, economic and political empowerment of the women.

Knowledge Management: Journal