| Abstract: |
The paper explores whether one of the largest programs in the world for
women's empowerment and rural livelihoods, the Indira Kranti Patham in Andhra
Pradesh, India, has had an impact on the economic and social wellbeing of
households that participate in the program. The analysis usespanel data for
4,250 households from two rounds of a survey conducted in 2004 and 2008 in
five districts. Propensity score matching was used to construct control groups
and outcomes are compared with differences-in-differences. There are two major
impacts. First, the Indira Kranti Patham program increased participants'access
to loans, which allowed them to accumulate some assets (livestock and durables
for the poorest and nonfarm assets for the poor), invest in education, and
increase total expenditures (for the poorest and poor). Women who participated
in the program had more freedom to go places and were less afraid to disagree
with their husbands; the women participated more in village meetings and their
children were slightly more likely to attend school. Consistent with the
emphasis of the program on the poor, the impacts were stronger across the
board for the poorest and poor participants and were more pronounced for
long-term Scheduled Tribe participants. No significant differences are found
between participants and nonparticipants in some maternal and child health
indicators. Second, program participants were significantly more likely to
benefit from various targeted government programs, most important the National
Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, but also midday meals in schools, hostels,
and housing programs. This was an important way in which the program
contributed to the improved wellbeing of program participants. The effects
captured by the analysis accrue to program participants over and above those
that may accrue to all households in program villages. |