Women Empowerment Performance of Income Generating Activities Supported by Rural Women Employment Creation Project (RWECP): A Case Study in Dumuria Thana, Bangladesh

Abstract

This study is an attempt to examine the performance of income generating activities supported by Rural Employment Creation Project (RWECP) in empowering poor women. RWECP is one of the largest projects of Government addressed rural poor women for their income generation as well as poverty alleviation. Out of 12 thanas under this project this study covers only Dumuria thana of Khulna district. Study reveals that irrespective of type, all economic activities supported by RWECP have induced positive impact in women empowerment, though the extent of changes is not significantly high. The activities have enabled women to have a better access to basic needs and make important contribution to household decision making, especially the decision regarding their personal needs and availing treatment and recreational facilities. It is also found that, husbands of most of these women possess full control over income and sole right of decision making. As a concluding remark of this study it can be said that marital status (women living with husband or without husband) and ethnic affiliation act as influential factors of women empowerment.