Microfinance and economic and social empowerment of people with disabilities: Lessons from Bangladesh

Abstract Motivation People with disabilities are among the most disadvantaged and dispossessed people on earth, especially in the global South, where they have limited or no access to basic amenities of life and income‐earning opportunities. Moreover, in developing societies where poverty is widespread and disability is often regarded as a liability and, at times, stigmatized, people with disabilities often live in starkly inadequate conditions. This article is based on doctoral research which, among other things, investigated the pilot experiment by non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) in Bangladesh. This developing, tradition‐bound country is looking to share theoretical understanding of aspects that contribute to dispossessions and the quagmire of deprivations into which people with disabilities are trapped, and alongside this present the potential or otherwise of microfinance in economic and social empowerment of people with disabilities who are “economically active.” Purpose The article, which is based on qualitative research and depicts in an objective manner the lived experiences of people with disabilities in a developing country setting, offers useful lessons in social and economic empowerment of people with disabilities in such societies. Methods and Approach Underpinned by the theory of intersectionality, this research used an innovative and customized qualitative case study method that is crucial in reaching out, interacting with, and gathering information and articulating issues that are relevant for policy development. Findings There are two important findings. First, that reaching out to and gathering information from and articulating the lived experiences and empowerment imperatives of people with disabilities, as well as the innovation and customization of existing tools and techniques of qualitative research, are key; and second, while microfinance did help a few people with disabilities who are in poverty and have been deemed “economically active,” the empowerment of people with disabilities requires a more holistic approach. Policy Implications The findings of this research indicate the importance of qualitative research to understand the lived experiences of people with disabilities in their own environment and formulate policies and initiate programmes that address the needs of people with disabilities in a practical and empowering manner, especially in the global South.