Microfinance and Socio-Economic Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs: An Empirical Study in Virudhunagar District.

Sathyakala D; Dr. Sorna Priya R

doi:10.69889/kvmqht26

Authors

Sathyakala D Ph.D. Research Scholar (Part-Time), PG and Research Department of Commerce, Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College, Sivakasi. Author
Dr. Sorna Priya R Assistant Professor, PG and Research Department of Commerce, Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College, Sivakasi. Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69889/kvmqht26

Keywords:

Microfinance, Women Entrepreneurs, Economic Empowerment, Loan Accessibility, Complementary Services, Virudhunagar District

Abstract

The present study examines the relationship between microfinance services and the economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs in Virudhunagar District, Tamil Nadu. The study adopts a descriptive and analytical research design based on primary data collected from 180 women entrepreneurs. Multiple regression analysis is employed to examine the influence of loan accessibility, loan size and adequacy, loan terms and conditions, and complementary services on economic empowerment. The findings reveal that complementary services have the strongest positive and statistically significant influence on economic empowerment (β = 0.433, p < 0.001), followed by loan terms and conditions (β = 0.228, p < 0.001) and loan size and adequacy (β = 0.212, p = 0.001). However, loan accessibility shows a positive but statistically insignificant relationship (β = 0.079, p = 0.244). The study concludes that microfinance programmes should focus not only on providing credit but also on ensuring adequate loan amounts, favourable repayment conditions, financial literacy, and entrepreneurial support services to strengthen the economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs.