IMPACT OF JAGORANI CHAKRA FOUNDATION MICRO- CREDIT PROGRAM TOWARDS UPLIFTING SOCIAL STATUS OF THE BENEFICIARIES

Abstract

The focus of this study was to determine and describe the impact of Jagorani Chakra Foundation micro-credit program towards uplifting the social status of the beneficiaries measured by computing change in income, change in food consumption, change in housing, change in drinking water source, change in sanitation, change in family asset and change in decision making ability. Attempts were also made to determine and describe nine selected characteristics of Jagorani Chakra Foundation beneficiaries and explore the contribution of those characteristics to the impact of micro-credit towards uplifting the social status of the beneficiaries .Attempts were also made to identify the problems faced by the beneficiaries in receiving and utilizing micro-credit. The study was conducted at Gangni upazila under Meherpur district. Majority (58.30%) of the respondents had perceived medium impact while to 36.40% of the respondents had perceived low impact after involvement with Jagorani Chakra Foundation microcredit program. Step-wise multiple regressions method was administrated and 9 independent variables namely: age, level of education, family size, farm size, participation with jagorani chakra foundation, credit received, duration of involvement with jagorani chakra foundation micro-credit program, annual family savings and cosmopoliteness were fitted together in step-wise multiple regression analysis .It was observed that out of 9 variables only 3 independent variables namely farm size, duration of involvement with Jagorani Chakra Foundation and annual family savings were entered into the regression equation. These three variables combinedly explained 24.7 percent of the total variation in impact of Jagorani Chakra Foundation micro-credit program towards uplifting social status where farm size of the respondent had highest (15.50%)contribution in impact of Jagorani Chakra Foundation micro-credit program towards uplifting their social status followed by duration of involvement with Jagorani Chakra Foundation (7.10 percent).‘The payback system is rigid’ was identified as main problem followed by payback period starts early.Finally based on the findings of the study, some policy recommendations were suggested for future policy implications of Jagorani Chakra Foundation which can play an important role to improve the social status of the beneficiaries.