Impact of microfinance on enhanced wellbeing of self-help group women in post-COVID scenario

Abstract

In the past few years, Microfinance has been usually contemplated as an effective strategy instrument in the fight against poverty. The SHG women situation in India has been particularly difficult during COVID-19. It had distressing consequences on SHG women life, their income making activities and livelihoods. Therefore, the question arises whether Microfinance credit leads to poverty reduction and improve their decision-making ability in the post COVID era. To address this question, the present study undertakes to identify the impact of Microfinance, Micro Credit and Savings on the Decision making ability of SHG women in the post COVID era. A number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) provide micro-finance programmes to women in need in order to gain access to credit and savings services. In the current research, the NGO named ‘Peetambra Foundation’ registered in 2008 in Pink City Jaipur, Rajasthan is instrumental in providing data related to SHG women registered with them. Total 306 SHG women were surveyed in the nearest village of Jaipur city. The findings revealed positive but insignificant impact of Microfinance on Financial improvement. In addition, Financial improvement has a both negative and significant impact on the Decision Making ability.