2.4.3.2. Ideological Challenges
A topic to be discussed here is whether the concept of
empowerment and women's empowerment is an integral part of a given society or
is an imported phenomenon that is borrowed and imposed from the West on the
East. Since the primary interest of microfinance institution (MFI) is financial
sustainability, introducing empowerment issues is not only incompatible with
their goals; it is also an additional agenda in which MFIs would avoid
investing. Although governments and organizations such as the Self Employed
Women's Association (SEWA) and Working Women's Forum (India) (WWF) in India
have mobilized women for a long time to fight for women's rights, it does make
it easier for MFIs to avoid an empowerment agenda - as it sometimes mutually
suits the MFIs and other stakeholders such as national governments. Indeed,
there are reports that the MFI turmoil in Andhra Pradesh is more due to
government politicians' and officials' vested interests and lack of concern for
women's empowerment (Bellman 2010).
2.4.3.3. Cultural Challenges
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