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Poverty Alleviation Through Micro-credit: Evidence of Brac Credit Program

M. A. S. Bhuyian
Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202

B. Mankhin
Jalchatra ADP, World Vision Bangladesh, Tangail,

M. M. Rahman
Department of Plant Pathology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The paper presents the extent of poverty alleviation through micro-credit of Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) women beneficiaries in upgrading their economic and social status. The study was conducted three villages in Birampur upazila under Dinajpur district. Out of 442 populations, 88 women beneficiaries were randomly selected which constituted the sample. Data were collected during 20th February to 20th March,2009 using interview schedule. Coefficient of correlation(r) was computed in order to explore relationship between the selected characteristics of the women beneficiaries and their poverty alleviation. Only 4.5% population had high poverty alleviation while the highest proportion (61.4%) of the women had moderate poverty alleviation in participating BRAC micro-credit activities. The findings showed that age, family size and duration of involvement with BRAC had no relation with their poverty alleviation. Education, farm size, family income, Cosmo politeness, availability of BRAC micro-credit and attitude towards BRAC had positive relationship with their poverty alleviation. New loan is not issued until final repayment of installment as identified by the beneficiaries as the main problem.

Keywords: Poverty alleviation, Micro-credit, Women beneficiaries

Location: Dinajpur

Start Date: 00-00-0000

End Date: 00-00-0000

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Credit

Objectives:

o to find out the extent of poverty alleviation through micro-credit as perceived by the BRAC women beneficiaries; and

o to identify the problems faced by the BRAC women beneficiaries in receiving and utilizing the micro-credit.

Methodology:

This study was conducted at the area of BRAC, Benail union in Birampur upazila under Dinajpur district. This union consists of 27 villages. The women beneficiaries in these villages who received credit from BRAC constituted the population of the study. Out of these 27 villages, 3 villages ( Achintopur, Ayra and Mondira ) were selected as the sample area of the study. There were about 442 women beneficiaries in these villages who were involved with BRAC credit programme. From the total population (442 women beneficiaries) 20% i.e. eighty-eight women beneficiaries were selected as the sample size. A reserve list of 10 women beneficiaries was also prepared which could be used if any selected respondent was not available for interview. With the help of final interview schedule and focus group discussion, data were collected from 88 women beneficiaries. All possible efforts were made to get valid and pertinent information from them. The women beneficiaries who were interviewed during pre-test of the schedule were excluded from the sample. Qualitative data were converted into quantitative forms by assigning suitable score whenever necessary. Statistical measures such as number, percentage, range, mean, rank order and standard deviation were used in describing the selected dependent and independent variables. Data were then coded into a master coding sheet. These were then compiled and analyzed in accordance with the objectives of the study. The first dependent variable “poverty alleviation through BRAC micro-credit programme” was measured by using some statements/items related to the improvement of living standard of BRAC women beneficiaries. The poverty alleviation scores of all the respondents could range from 0 to 45, where zero(0) indicated no poverty alleviation and 45 indicated high poverty alleviation. The positive and negative statements were arranged randomly in the interview schedule so that the respondent’s real attitude could be reflected. The attitude score of a respondent was computed by adding her scores for response to all the statements. Thus, the possible scores could range from 0 to 32 when 0 indicating highly unfavorable attitude and 32 indicating highly favorable attitude towards BRAC. In studying relationship between variables, research hypotheses are formulated which stated anticipated relationship between the variables. Tables were used to find out the meaningful result. In order to explore the relationships between the poverty alleviation of women beneficiaries through BRAC micro-credit programme and the selected independent variables, co-efficient of correlation (r) was measured. Five percent (0.05) level of significance was used as a basis for rejecting any null hypothesis. For statistical test it becomes necessary to formulate null hypotheses.

Source of Information: J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 13(1): 87–92, 2015 ISSN 1810-3030

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Due to participation by the rural women in BRAC micro-credit activities, better changes leading to their poverty alleviation were taken place in different characteristics in varying extent. Three characteristics items were most important in this connection, these were i) improvement of housing condition, ii) improvement of family health and housing sanitation and iii) change in food habit. It may, therefore, be concluded that such a situation claims to be promising and BRAC has been successful in matter of poverty alleviation of the rural women. An overwhelming majority (95.5 percent) of the women beneficiaries belonged to either medium or low poverty alleviation category. Only 4.5 percent of the women beneficiaries had high poverty alleviation. Thus it may be concluded that low and medium poverty alleviation categories need to be converted to high poverty alleviation category as far as possible. As larger portion of the rural women are young aged, it may be necessary to give some importance to the rural women. The BRAC women beneficiaries having more education were likely to have more poverty alleviation because educated women were more aware to uplift their socio-economic condition. Therefore, education would be difficult to eradicate poverty alleviation of the rural women, if they are not go for, increasing literacy programme among the rural women. Cosmo politeness of the rural women had significant relationship with their poverty alleviation. It may, therefore, be concluded that more Cosmo politeness of women leads to more poverty alleviation. The findings also indicated that women with more credit had more income than those with less credit. They invested more credit in their self employment opportunities and get more return from those .Availability of credit of the women beneficiaries had positive significant relationship with their poverty alleviation. Therefore, it may be concluded that, there is a scope to increase poverty alleviation by increasing availability of credit. The respondents having favorable attitude towards BRAC were more likely to have higher poverty alleviation. It may, therefore, be concluded that motivational work and various training programmes may increase favorable attitude towards BRAC.

Knowledge Management: Journal