Minister for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury on Friday called for devising a proper strategy to  establish viable micro-finance programmes which play a crucial role in economic empowerment of poor women.

In her address on ‘Micro-finance and Women Economic Empowerment’ at a function organised for the SAARC region by the Rashtriya Mahila Kosh here, Ms Chowdhury said micro-finance has become highly significant in empowering women through mobilisation of asset less women to engage in self employment and income generation activities.

Pointing out that the micro finance schemes have in many instances demonstrated that the poor women are bankable and a valuable source of saving mobilisation, the Minister said it would help women become a significant contributors to family welfare.

She said microfinancing would address the problem of poverty  alleviation and  women’s empowerment.