Role of microcredit in rural poverty alleviation: A case study of Grameen Bikas Bank in Eastern Development Region, Nepal

After 5 decades of relentless effort by the past governments and continuous donor assistance, Nepal still faces the same old challenges. Poverty is still at the forefront of developmental agendas. Persistent poverty raises a serious question regarding its existence. Is struggle against poverty in Nepal against the tide? Is poverty in Nepal unconquerable? Or do we need to take a step back and rethink our strategy to combat poverty? In order to alleviate poverty in Nepal, we need to target poverty at its root (i.e., rural areas). Grameen Bikas Bank (GBB) is a microcredit organization in Nepal that targets poor households. In Nepalese society where patriarchy is deep rooted and women are considered second class citizens, Grameen Bank, by providing loans to set up micro enterprises, has challenged the dominant patriarchal ideology and male power structure. However, microcredit in itself will not be sufficient to raise the living standard of all poor in Nepal.