Thesis submitted for the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1994

The aim of the present study, is to analyze the impact of the Janashakthi Program on improving the condition and position of women on giving access to credit and participation in the program. The objective of the Janashakthi program is to empower women, removing all obstacle from womens' economic development and participation. Data was obtained through individual household survey, group discussions, related literature and key informants views. The study area is the four divisional secretary division of Hambantota District in Sri Lanka where the program is in operation. The findings ravel that the impact of the Program is positively related to the improvements of socio-economic condition and position of gender. According to some selected indicators for the evaluation of the Program, the study shows that majority of the borrowers have crossed the poverty line, by increasing their income and generating additional working days by diversifying occupation from subsistence agriculture to intensive farming, business and self employed activities. In addition, it was found that the participation and group activities have facilitated the awareness on different aspects and services for both gender groups. But the study reveals that still, 18% of the borrowers are below the poverty line. Most of the borrowers from agriculture and self employed drop out after taking loan once or twice. As they have not been productive enough to return their loan timely and their skills and training have insufficient not developed satisfactorily. The study emphasizes that planning and management are necessary to strengthen the existing activities by direct project management. Adoption of modern technology and strengthening desirable skills of entrepreneurs and social mobilizers, need training and management and more investment of capital and inputs. Collective small scale business activities, cooperative service, and marketing linkages are the other requirements of the borrowers. Social mobilizers may increase their gender awareness through additional training on gender analysis and organizational staffs should improve leadership functions.