Rural women and poverty: A study on the role of RDRS for poverty alleviation in Bangladesh

Abstract

No development objectives can be achieved without making women self reliant. The present study deals with the role of Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS) on poverty alleviation and women empowerment in Kaligonj upazila under Lalminirhat district considering their participation in different programmes of RDRS. The impact of the study was assessed in terms of economic and social gains accrued by the women's and their families' activities. The random sampling technique was used for selection of sample size. The test of mean difference, head count ratio, poverty gap, economic status index, social status index and decision-making index were used towards poverty alleviation and for women empowerment. The poverty situations improved as compared with that of the national level. It was clearly evident that participation in RDRS micro credit programmes, has substantially improved the respondent's economic condition, social condition and living standards. It referred the positive change in women empowerment in the study areas. By and large the women are better at present in respect of social awareness, freedom of attitude, financial freedom and exercising the right in decision making activities compared to their previous situation. It may , therefore, be inferred that the holistic approach followed by the RDRS for socioeconomic development led to increased family income, socioeconomic and decision making status in general and those of the women in particular in the study area.

Empowerment of Women and Poverty Reduction in Developing Countries

“…Numerically, Shetty (2010) found that 52% of plan recipients in Chennai, India had reported an increase in their level of income due to their access to loans and small grants. In addition, Islam et al (2008) illustrated that the percentage living below the poverty line was lower than the national average which means that there was a reduction of poverty amongst the study group because they joined Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service. These data show that the participation of women in this program improved their economic standing and sustainability just as Sindhe et al (2013) and Shetty (2010) had argued above.…”

“…In her findings, Shetty (2010) concluded that the two microcredit programs had a small impact on poverty reduction on the basis of credit alone but that they allowed women to access low-interest loans that they otherwise wouldn't have been able to access. On the contrary, Islam et al (2008) established that in Bangladesh women in the RDRS program tried to improve their economic conditions by using credit in order to diversify their sources of income, which led to a notable improvement in their living standard and an improvement in their livelihood. As with Islam et al (2008), Sindhe et al (2013) stated that their participation in economic activity allows women to obtain new skills and further interact in their society, which would improve their social standing.…”

“…On the contrary, Islam et al (2008) established that in Bangladesh women in the RDRS program tried to improve their economic conditions by using credit in order to diversify their sources of income, which led to a notable improvement in their living standard and an improvement in their livelihood. As with Islam et al (2008), Sindhe et al (2013) stated that their participation in economic activity allows women to obtain new skills and further interact in their society, which would improve their social standing. But Sindhe clarified that an important element in this solution is the availability of microfinance as the easiest way for women to expand their economic participation.…”

“…Although all these studies discuss microcredit or microfinance programs, Shetty (2010) is the only one that specifically treated the relationship between microcredit programs and women empowerment. While Salt (2010) and Islam et al (2008) focused on the impact of microcredit loans on the lives of the women that use them, Sindhe et al (2013) see microfinance as a partial solution to the gender disparity in India, enhancing women's empowerment and reducing poverty. Salt (2010) explained that the majority of those who participate in microcredit programs are women and that they encounter certain barriers such as prolonged disbursement periods or insufficient funds to start their business.…”

“…Salt (2010) set out to describe the relationship between the health of American women that live in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and their businesses and examined their participation in a microcredit program in the United States. Its counterpart in a developing country would be Islam et al (2008) which explained the Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service credit in Bangladesh and its effect on the women that requested these loans. In another example, Shetty (2010) compared two microcredit programs conducted in the same slum in India, one by Working Women's Forum and the other by Guild of Service.…”