Social networking and empowering people
In the traditional system there is no web interface or social media but social capital, social business and social investment works simultaneously
Muhammad Mahboob Ali, Abdullah Abusayed Khan and Dipika Chandra
Social networking is the exercise of intensifying the quantity of ones business and/or social contacts by constructing acquaintances from side to side entities, often through social media along with social capital, social business and social investment. Social entrepreneurs are the people most able to deliver that innovation. This is a social structure entailing of persons or collections who are associated to each other, for example through relationships. When these networks are characterized in a database and with a web interface, it is frequentlymentioned to as a social network service.However, in traditional system there is no web interface or social media but social capital, social business and social investment works simultaneously. Riggio (2014) described that Social intelligence (SI), is mostly learned. SI develops from experience with people and learning from success and failures in social settings. It is more commonly referred to as tact, common sense, or street smarts.Lake and Huckfeldt (1998) argued that politically relevant social capital is generated in personal networks, that it is a by-product of the social interactions with a citizens discussants, and that increasing levels of politically relevant social capital enhance the likelihood that a citizen will be engaged in politics. Further, the production of politically relevant social capital is a function of the political expertise within an individuals network of relations, the frequency of political interaction within the network, and the size or extensiveness of the network. The consequences of social relations within networks are not readily explained away on the basis of either human capital effects or the effects of organizational engagement. Actually social relations are very important. As such social intelligence and social entrepreneurship works with social networking.
In Figure:1 we have seen a model as concept developed by Ali(2016) how social networking is working:
(Source: Concept of a model built by Muhammad Mahboob Ali, 2016)
For the study we choose two villagesi.e.Hatbati and Hatalbuniawhere primitive nature and social media is not working. As such here we consider Social media as constant and try to choose other factors of the fig:1 is working in aforesaid villages including social entrepreneurship and social intelligence.
The goal of the network was to create village-like structures, connect local initiatives and citizens, and support them in utilizing the concept of Social Networking as a mean s to solve social problems. Social Networking is driven to bring about change while pursuing sustainability. Although from a strictly profit-maximizing perspective it seems inappropriate to pursue a goal other than profit, Social Networkings aim is to achieve certain social and environmental goals. In this perspective, a Social Networking can also be understood as a business-pursuing NGO which is (eventually) financially self-sufficient (Jager, 2010).The situation for rural women is miserable and their sufferings know no bound despite present govt.s positive role to improve womens condition and for last seven years mostly succeeded. However, most women have no independent income source because they have low education levels, few marketable skills, marry at an early age, and maximum case do not own land or property. Women of rural areas of Bangladesh are given equal access to rural credit and using this credit in productive activities they have raised their status, lessened their dependency on social capital, social business and social investment and improved their homes and nutritional standards of their children. 90% of women who were housewives and used to begging as a means of survival now have roof over their heads and can support themselves. The study has undertaken with following reasons:
To analyze the role of Social Networking in empowering the rural people i.e. male and female.
To know the present status of rural credit ,social intelligence, social entrepreneurship and Social Networking ;
To evaluate the increased performance of women in socio-economic context of Bangladesh;
To provide some implications of the study.
Leadbeater(1997) argues that social entrepreneurs need to lead the way with schemes for self-help, particularly by promoting local, national and international twinning arrangements between projects toshare ideas, contacts and staff. For liberal feminists, the optimum level of gender arrangement is one that facilitates the individuals to adopt the life style that suits him or her and also accepted or respected (Ritzer, 2001) by the society at large. However, liberal feminists are not in favor of structural change to a great extent. Furthermore, some of liberal feminists think that individual woman cannot make change; therefore, state intervention is prerequisite. BarNirandSmith (2002)argued that the social networks of senior executives account for 1122 percent of the variance in the degree to which firms engage in alliances, depending on the type of alliance. Results also show that the number of inter firm alliances is positively related to several networking properties (propensity to network, strength of ties, and network prestige. Hunt and Kasynathan(2002) pointed out that only a few number of women receiving credit had the ability to control their loans. Many women received loan by their own name and passed on the full amount of their loans directly to their husbands, sons or sons-in-law. Swain (2006) conducted a study following experimental research design in rural India and assessed the potential impacts of a microfinance institution named Self Help Group (SHG). The concept of women empowerment was defined as the process in which the women challenge the existing norms and culture to effectively improve their well-being. Williams Durrance(2008) found that across a number of instances of community technology, technology use is directly influenced of social networks, and social networks are directly influenced by technology use.Micro-savings were recognized as key pillars of financial inclusion in the global development agenda. And, Nick Kristof recently described micro-savings as the Next Big Thing.The practice of saving among the poor is not new, especially in Africa, which has a long history of informal savings. People are saving through a range of toolscommunity savings groups in Mali and Rwanda and cell phones in Kenya. Whats still missing is the provision of large-scale access to secure and regulated savings accounts in an affordable and accessible manner. This is especially true for youth in developing countries, who seek access to formal savings accounts but face additional barriers due to regulatory requirements such as age limits and credit history.(Roy,2010).Perron (2011)examined case by case the various approaches from companies, public sector entities, philanthropy, etc, and also institutional and private investors in their availability as well as their specific legal capacities and limitations to deliver the funding required supporting the growth. Such initiatives are vital in the fight against poverty and income inequalities. Riggio (2014) argued that networking organizations, or speaking groups are good at helping develop basic communication skills. Work on becoming a more effective listener, through what is called active listening where you reflect back what you believe the speaker said in order to ensure clear understanding. Most importantly, study social situations and your own behavior. Learn from your social successes and failures. Ali(2016) suggested that establishment of integration fund to encourage creative entrepreneurship so that poor downtrodden people can come out with innovative business process through financial inclusion process, to remove poverty. Jahan and Ullah(2016) described that social entrepreneurship represents both a growing field of hybrid action and a catalyst for wider recalibrations of the roles and boundaries of the market, the state and civil society. Rattanawiboonsom and Ali(2016)more intensive and pragmatic policy should be developed for the development of the social enterprises particularly for self-motivated entrepreneurs. Experiences from the research work, they observed that the rural poor are mobilized and working together in self-controlled community based organizations which ensures social welfare and Pareto optimality. Not only small and medium enterprises but also micro enterprises should get special priority and inclusion through financial organizations are being required for developing proper steps to poverty alleviation, public-private and foreign strategic alliances are required in the small and medium enterprise sector with special emphasis on micro enterprises of the country.Prime Minister of BangladeshSheikh Hasina said the government introduced micro-saving project instead of microcredit to make the marginal people self-reliant and free them from high interest rate of microcredit
The study extensively displays a comparative picture regarding the stipulation of women in the different dimensions of empowerment before involving in Social Networking and after involving in Social Networking. Before participating in social capital, social business and social investment, the controlling power of the family was typically restricted by their social capital, social business and social investments. Before involving in social capital, social business and social investment, the women had very low participation in income generating activities. Most of them had very low control over income, expenditure, credit and savings. When they could neither participate in household decision making nor participate in social and political activities. Mobility to outside home i. e. mobility to market, relatives/parents house, hospital/clinic, office of the NGO etc. were very low among them. Their exposure to media and communication was also low. But after practicing of social capital, social business and social investment, the people started to participate in different income generating activities which includes small business, buying cattle, fish cultivation, poultry rearing, handicrafts and non farm activities etc. As a result their income level was also rising gradually. Then, they also started to control over income, expenditure, credit and savings. They could then participate in household decision making more than before. Because of involving in Social Networking program the rate of participating in social and political activities among the women also increased. Their mobility outside home and exposure to media and communication was increased after involving in Social Networking. Bangladesh govt. is correctly putting emphasis on micro savings. Nano savings ought to work for nano investment which leads to Social entrepreneurship. From the study, it was found the in dimensions of empowerment the people especially women group are now staying in higher position than before involving in Social Networking. And thus, Social Networking is playing a vital role for empowering women in rural Bangladesh for which social intelligence and social entrepreneurship plays vital role. Proper utilization of social networking leads to raise human dignity.
The writers are researchers
