Micro finance is the key to poverty Eradication. A study of Bihar
Keywords:
Microfinance, Poverty Alleviation, SHG, Financial Inclusion, Women's Empowerment, BiharAbstract
This study analyses the role of microfinance in the state of Bihar, particularly in the context of poverty alleviation. Microfinance facilitates access to financial services—such as small loans, savings, insurance, etc.—for poor and marginalized sections of society. The study found that, through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Microfinance Institutions, there has been an improvement in the income, employment, and financial inclusion of rural households. The findings of the study indicate that microfinance promotes women's empowerment, entrepreneurial development, and social participation. However, challenges such as pressure regarding loan repayment, limited skills, and a lack of market access also persist. Therefore, it is essential to implement microfinance initiatives with effective policy support.
References
• Armendáriz, B., & Morduch, J. (2010). The Economics of Microfinance (2nd ed.). MIT Press.
• Yunus, M. (2003). Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty. Public Affairs.
• Khandker, S. R. (2005). Microfinance and Poverty: Evidence Using Panel Data from Bangladesh. The World Bank Economic Review, 19(2), 263–286.
• Banerjee, A., Duflo, E., Glennerster, R., & Kinnan, C. (2015). The Miracle of Microfinance? Evidence from a Randomized Evaluation. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 7(1), 22–53.
• Pitt, M. M., & Khandker, S. R. (1998). The Impact of Group-Based Credit Programs on Poor Households. Journal of Political Economy, 106(5), 958–996.
• NABARD. (2023). Status of Microfinance in India Report. Mumbai.
• World Bank. (2022). World Development Report: Finance for Development. Washington, DC.
• UNDP. (2023). Human Development Report. New York.
• Government of India. (2023). Annual Report: Ministry of Rural Development. New Delhi.
• दीनदयाल अंत्योदय योजना–राष्ट्रीय ग्रामीण आजीविका मिशन. (2022). Programme Implementation Framework. Ministry of Rural Development.
• Swain, R. B., & Wallentin, F. Y. (2009). Does Microfinance Empower Women? International Review of Applied Economics, 23(5), 541–556.
• Karlan, D., & Zinman, J. (2011). Microcredit in Theory and Practice: Using Randomized Credit Scoring. Science, 332(6035), 1278–1284.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 The Voice of Creative Research

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
