2024, Vol. 7, Issue 1

Present study deals with women empowerment in 21st century and objectives of this study are to identify status of women empowerment in terms of various decision-making scenario in the rural area of Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal. The rural women of this district are availing various type of micro-credit from commercial banks and private micro-finance institutions. By utilising those loan amount, beneficiaries are trying to improve the financial conditions by various means. This study also shows that women empowerment refers to increasing and improving the decision-making power of all these rural women beneficiaries. To measure the empowerment level of rural women of Paschim Medinipur District primary data were collected through questionnaires. All primary data were collected from eighty women micro credit beneficiaries who are involved in various self-employment activities through questionnaire and conducting personal interviews in local language. A random sampling technique was used to choose and find the sample size from various rural areas of Paschim Medinipur District.

The factor analysis was applied on all independent variables for screening to identify all factors which has influence on women empowerment. A multiple-regression analysis technique was performed to identify the relationship between empowerment factors and the impact of micro credit on overall empowerment of rural women. There are three key factors namely self-decision making, freedom to social engagement and family decisions are highly associated with empowerment of rural women which is shown in the result of this study. All independent variables of related to three factors have a positive correlation with women empowerment and it is significant when a society’s all-round development is possible if women also get equal right from every direction. Along with that this study shows that the rural women are enjoying their voting right, social status, health care benefits, children’s education, self-education, and skill development etc. in this district. Overall, this study shows that by women empowerment the society of rural Paschim Medinipur is developing and changing gradually.