Abstract

This report analyses the impact of the Mahila Samakhya (MS) program on women’s economic empowerment in Haveri, Karnataka. The MS program aims to reduce gender inequality by promoting collective action and education among rural women. Our study uses a mixed-methods approach, including a randomised control trial (RCT) and embedded ethnography, to explore sustainable economic empowerment, barriers to empowerment, and interventions to address these barriers.

The baseline survey provides quantitative data on demographics, employment, savings, and decision-making among the women involved. Results show that nearly half of the women are employed, mainly in agricultural labour, limiting their participation in empowerment activities. Additionally, many women do not take part in decisions about their employment or mobility, highlighting persistent patriarchal constraints.

Qualitative findings illustrate the transformative potential of the MS program, despite challenges such as resource limitations and the threat of program discontinuation by the government. The ethnographic study emphasises the role of collective action in improving women’s financial knowledge, self-efficacy, and community engagement. The report concludes with recommendations for sustaining and enhancing the MS program’s impact. These include increasing awareness, delaying child marriages, and promoting education to overcome socio-economic barriers faced by rural women in Karnataka. Continued support and strategic adaptations are essential for maintaining the program’s positive outcomes on women’s empowerment.

CBPS. (2018, February). Mahila Samakhya: A descriptive analysis of a baseline study in Haveri, Karnataka. Centre for Budget and Policy Studies.