Pemberdayaan Perempuan melalui Program Membina Ekonomi Keluarga Sejahtera (MEKAAR) di Kantor PT. Permodalan Nasional Madani (PNM) Mekaar Cabang Medan Maimun Kelurahan Sei Mati

Abstract

The problem of poverty is a problem that is difficult to solve in various circles of the world. Various efforts have been made to resolve problems regarding poverty, one of which is by using a development approach oriented towards counseling or empowerment. Where society is no longer placed as an object of development, but as a subject of development. With the paradigm shift to being a subject, society is placed in a strategic position in determining the success of development. However, the role of women in society in Indonesia experiences a gender gap or inequality compared to men in achieving development. For this, there is a program that specializes in women becoming customers in the Fostering a Prosperous Family Economy (Mekaar) program by providing capital loan services for underprivileged women, whether they want to start a business or develop a business. PNM Mekaar is strengthened by business assistance activities and carried out in groups. The method used is a descriptive method with a qualitative approach where problem solving procedures are investigated using the condition of the subject or object in research with data collection techniques, namely: interviews, observation and documentation. The analysis used is according to the Longwe women's empowerment theory with two women's empowerment tools based on the level of equality and the level of recognition in the Mekaar program. The results of Longwe's analytical research on Women's Empowerment through the Mekaar Program in Sei Mati Village are: from a welfare perspective, Mekaar loans enable women to work and have their own income; access, women get access to socialization to find out how Mekaar can provide loans accompanied by training to increase women's capacity; participation; lack of women's participation in participating in capacity building training for women; Critical awareness, achieved as seen from the awareness between women and men to work and have their own income; and Control, less realized because it has not been able to influence the decision-making process because the decision remains in the husband's hands. At the level of recognition, the Mekaar program has been seen positively regarding women's issues, especially the program which specializes in women as clients.