The new policy, which took effect June 12, aimed at helping micro-lending firms operate on a bigger scale and provide stronger support to small-sized rural businesses and individual farmers.

Key results: we find that although web2.0 permits platform models, most sites (commercial or micro-lending) have retained intermediary roles and have not permitted direct peer to peer contact.

Declining remittances and a tightening of micro-finance lending would further restrict the funds available to women to run their households.