Impact of Microfinance on socio economic empowerment of small business women in Virudhunagar district: An empirical approach

Abstract

The present study examines the impact of microfinance on the economic empowerment of small businesswomen in Virudhunagar District, Tamil Nadu. The study adopts a descriptive research design based on 150 small businesswomen, with primary data collected through interviewer-administered surveys using a structured questionnaire. The study focuses on five independent variables, namely revenue increase, profit margins, business expansion, customer base growth, and savings and investments, while economic empowerment of small businesswomen is considered the dependent variable. Descriptive statistics, correlation and multiple regression analysis are proposed to examine the relationships between these variables and economic empowerment. The study seeks to assess how improvements in business performance contribute to women's financial independence, entrepreneurial development and economic decision-making capacity. The findings are expected to provide useful insights for microfinance institutions, policymakers and development agencies in strengthening women's entrepreneurship and promoting sustainable economic empowerment.