📄 Abstract
The economic empowerment of rural women is an essential component of inclusive growth, poverty reduction and sustainable development. In India, government welfare schemes have increasingly moved beyond traditional social protection interventions towards financial inclusion, livelihood promotion, entrepreneurship development and digital delivery of public services. However, the extent to which these schemes translate into meaningful and sustained economic empowerment among rural women depends not only on the availability of government support but also on access to formal financial services and digital technologies. This study examines the interconnected role of government welfare schemes, financial inclusion and digital access in promoting the economic empowerment of rural women in Coimbatore District. The study is grounded in the argument that welfare schemes can become effective instruments of empowerment when beneficiaries possess the financial and digital capabilities necessary to access, utilise and sustain the benefits provided. The article reviews existing literature on welfare interventions, women's empowerment, financial inclusion, digital financial services and rural development. It highlights the importance of schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana, Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission, Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana and other livelihood and entrepreneurship initiatives in creating opportunities for rural women. The study proposes that economic empowerment should be assessed through multidimensional indicators including income, employment, savings, access to credit, entrepreneurship, financial independence and household decision-making power. The article concludes that a transition from welfare dependency to sustainable empowerment requires an integrated policy approach combining welfare delivery, financial inclusion, digital literacy, skill development and entrepreneurial support. The study provides a contextual framework for understanding the pathways through which government interventions can contribute to the economic empowerment of rural women in Coimbatore District.
🏷️ Keywords
📚 How to Cite:
Dr.R.Amsaveni , FROM WELFARE TO EMPOWERMENT: EVALUATING THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT SCHEMES, FINANCIAL INCLUSION AND DIGITAL ACCESS IN PROMOTING RURAL WOMEN’S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IN COIMBATORE DISTRICT , Volume 11 , Issue 7, July 2026, EPRA International Journal of Research & Development (IJRD) , Pages: 358 - 362 , DOI: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra31021