Zakat as a way of promoting self -employment of women: a case study of Maruthamunai

Abstract

Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam, one which if any believer renounces, is considered an unbeliever. Zakat is a religious obligation, ordering all Muslims who meet the necessary criteria to donate a certain portion of their wealth each year to charitable causes. This study is based on the role of Zakat in promoting women's self-employment in Maruthamunai, Ampara District in Sri Lanka. The main objective of this research is to find out the role of Zakat in promoting self-employment of women in Maruthamunai. The specific objectives are to find out the socio-economic status of female Zakat recipients, to identify the challenges faced by women in their self-employment, and to assess the contribution of the Zakat foundation for developing the women's self-employment activities through this research. Data for the research was collected through the primary and secondary data collection methods. The collected data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively and presented in both regression and descriptive formats. When we increased by one unit of zakat fund, amount of saving, education level, and family members, then the income level of women self-employees rose by 0.080, 5.361, 2375.195, and 430.228 units, respectively. So, there is a positive relationship between the income level of female self-employees and other independent variables. Through this result, Zakat rate promotes women as self-employed. So, hypothesis H1 is accepted in this research. It leads to promoting women's selfemployment. This research draws up a few recommendations, such as educating the people on zakat, implementing collective zakat, and the importance of training and skill development to promote and encourage women's self-employment. Government and non-government organizations should have taken proper policy to empower women's self-employment at the local level.