“Women Empowerment through Microfinance: A Study in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh”

The study focuses on two dimensions of empowerment access to microfinance. Social Empowerment and Economic Empowerment among women in Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh. Ability to gain entrance to micro finance Bank's (MFB) product mirrored access to the institutions; economic empowerment is mirrored by Increase in Income and Savings. Social empowerment is mirrored by confidence, mobility and Social status..Thus the result supported the Hypothesis Economic Empowerment (H1) and Social Empowerment (H2). The study covers all the Four Revenue Divisions in Krishna District namely Vijayawada, Nuzvid, Machilipatnam, and Gudivada. The study is conducted selecting only Regional Rural Bank (RRB-SAPTAGIRI GRAMIN BANK) Bank linkage SHGs only.The plannedsample size for the study is 325 respondents are women SHG members taken from 9 mandal in Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh. Further data analysis and interpretation isalso planned to cover Percentage Method and ANOVA statistical tool. Overall SHGs should empower women in economical and social empowerment. Hence microfinance is expected to play a vital role in women empowerment. The present study diagnose the problem and concluded the fact that there is a gradual change in the economical and social status of women. When compared to what it was in the past, her role in the family and society, she is now either primary or secondary bread earner. . The present microfinanceprograms have induced self confidence in women. Even women outside the fold of SHG are coming forward to form groups to become the beneficiaries of the Bank loans