scholarly journals Financial Inclusion in India

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-51
Author(s):  
Simon Thermadam

Financial inclusion, the process of ensuring access to financial services along with timely and adequate credit where needed by vulnerable groups, helps the weaker sections and low-income groups in different ways. With an active intervention of the government, a large number of the unbanked segments of the society could be included in various financial services in the last few years. As a result, the number of bank accounts has been increasing. Members from the marginalised groups, women, etc. are some of the direct beneficiaries of financial inclusion. By utilizing micro data of World Bank, ‘Global Financial Inclusion (Global Findex) Database 2017, the author observes that socio-economic factors, like educational level, age group, and employment have an important role in determining one’s access to banking services. But some problems arise when the account holders do not utilize the banking facilities properly, especially when a majority stays idle. Lack of money is still considered one of the major factors for a lack of interest in holding a bank account. The ownership of bank account by other members in the same family also stops many from opening a bank account. The government has to take active measures to solve these issues. Moreover, the remaining unbanked sections of the society have to be included in the financial services, by solving the various reasons cited.

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 229-237
Author(s):  
Bincy George ◽  
K.T. Thomachan

This paper examines women empowerment associated with financial inclusion. Financial inclusion is delivery of banking services at an affordable cost to the vast sections of disadvantaged and the low-income groups. The various financial services include access to saving, credit, insurance, bank account etc. The access to financial services helps women in their social and economic development. It is noted that access to financial service through financial inclusion do have impact upon the social and financial empowerment of women leading to their overall empowerment.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (12) ◽  
pp. 147-154
Author(s):  
Mukesh Kumar Sharma

India is a country where a sizeable amount of population lives in rural areas. They are engaged in agriculture and allied activities. Most of the people living in rural areas are poor. They do not have any access to the banks. The awareness and access of the poor to the banking services is important for the alleviation of the poverty. Their access to the banking services will contribute a lot to the growth and development of our country’s economy. Financial inclusion is a great weapon to overcome the financial backwardness as well as the establishment of good governance.It broadens the resource base of the financial system by developing a culture of savings among large segment of rural population, disadvantaged group and plays an essential role in the process of economic development. The Government of India and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have been making concentrated efforts periodically to overcome such vicious problems by promoting Financial Inclusion, being one of the important national objectives of the country. Since first phase of nationalization (1969) GoI continuously promoting financial inclusion through self-help groups, no frills account, simplification of KYC, Business correspondents etc., but no palpable effect could be seen in the plight of these financially vulnerable people. To mitigate this long drawn financial sufferings, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a new scheme in his Independence Day speech on 15th Aug 2014 called Pradhan Mantri Jan DhanYojana (PMJDY). Mission of PMJDY is to ensure easy access of financial services for the excluded section i.e. weaker section and the low income group. This effort will certainly go a long way in promoting economic growth and reducing poverty, while mitigating systematic risk and maintaining financial stability. This article focuses on the RBI, GoI initiatives, current status and future prospects of financial inclusion in India on the basis of facts and data provided by various secondary sources. It is concluded that financial inclusion shows positive and valuable changes.


2021 ◽  
pp. 115-119
Author(s):  
Jithu George ◽  
Rashmi. R

In simple words financial inclusion is defined as “the process of ensuring access to financial services and timely and adequate credit where needed by vulnerable groups such as weaker sections and low income groups at an affordable cost” (Rangarajan, 2008). The main aim of financial inclusion (FI) is to provide easy access to financial services to the underprivileged population of country. It is an attempt to raise the underprivileged population by making available of finance and there by achieving inclusive growth. This paper studies the financial inclusion of regional rural banks in Kerala. Both primary and secondary data used for the study.197 respondent’s data were collected through questionnaire and surveys. The research methodology used in this study was correlation analysis and descriptive statistics. The result of the correlation analysis shows there is positive correlation between independent and dependent variables also the peoples were aware about the inclusions that introduced and newly adapted by the banks. So, the aim of this study is to understand the various financial inclusion measures taken and its impact on creating awareness, benefits and better services to its customers by KGB.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
WARATTAYA CHINNAKUM

This study investigates the impacts of financial inclusion on poverty and income inequality in 27 developing countries in Asia during 2004–2019 based on a composite financial inclusion index (FII) constructed using principal component analysis (PCA). The generalized method of moments (GMM) was employed for the estimation. The results show that financial inclusion can influence the reduction in both poverty and income inequality. The empirical findings also reveal the contribution of such control variables as economic growth in decreasing income disparity and trade openness in helping improve the standard of living of poor households despite its tendency to co-vary with income inequality. The present empirical evidence supporting the role of financial inclusion in reducing poverty and income inequality in developing countries has led to a policy implication that financial sector development should focus on the availability, usage, and depth of credit to cover all poor households or low-income groups to help improve their access to financial services, enable them to increase their income, and reduce the income gap between poor and rich households.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
P. Nagarajan

Finance has become an essential part of an economy for development of the society as well as economy of nation. World leaders are embracing nancial inclusion at an accelerating pace, because they know that an inclusive nancial system that responsibly reaches all citizens is an important ingredient for social and economic progress for emerging markets and developing countries. Despite the political tailwind, half of the working-age adults globally – 2.5 billion people – remain excluded from formal nancial services. Instead, they have to rely on the age-old informal mechanisms of the moneylender or pawnbroker for credit or the rotating savings club and vulnerable livestock for savings. The pandemic has had a momentous impact on economies and societies around the world. At the same time, it has shown that, with the right approach, it is possible to protect and safeguard the economy. . Through Financial inclusion we can achieve equitable and inclusive growth of the nation. Financial inclusion stands for delivery of appropriate nancial services at an affordable cost, on timely basis to vulnerable groups such as low income groups and weaker section who lack access to even the most basic banking services. It helps in economic development as it widens the resource base of the nancial system by developing a culture of savings among large segment of rural population. Further, nancial inclusion protects their nancial wealth and other resources in exigent circumstances by bringing low income groups within the perimeter of formal banking sector. Financial inclusion engages in including poor people in the formal banking industry with the intention of securing their minimal nances for future purposes. Micronance has become a medium of extending nancial services to unbanked sections of population. Micronance is banking the unbankables, bringing credit, savings and other essential nancial services within the reach of millions of people who are too poor to be served by regular banks, in most cases because they are unable to offer sufcient collateral. In a country like India with almost 30% (more than 360 million) people still below poverty line and according to latest census gures, more than 70% or 840 million people living in rural areas with little or no access to formal banking and other nancial services, micronance has a big role to play in order to bridge this gap. The Micro Finance Institutions occupies key position in nancial inclusion through micro nance where the exclusion. In developing countries, the growth of micronance institutions (MFIs) which specically target low income individuals are viewed as potentially useful for promotion of nancial inclusion. Even though MFIs at present, mainly offer only credit products; as they grow, they are likely to expand their product range to include other nancial services.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Sayan Saha ◽  
Kiran Shankar Chakraborty

The term ‘Financial Inclusion’ signifies a process of ensuring delivery of financial services as well as banking services to the vulnerable groups at the point of need, adequately at an affordable cost. The concept of ‘Financial Inclusion’ was accentuated in 2003 by Kofi Annan, former General Secretary of United Nations. Such, efforts were undertaken by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2005 and the said policy as already mentioned in a pilot project was first implemented by Indian Bank. Probably, by implementing such policy resolution a vast section of the rural disadvantaged people in India was gradually coming under the ambit of formal banking services. The main aim of this paper is to assess the level of financial inclusion in Tripura based on composite Index. The study conducted in the four districts of Tripura state. The present study relies on secondary data. Secondary data collected from State Level Bankers’ Committee Reports, NEDFi databank, Economic Reviews and RBI Annual Reports. Through this paper Index of Financial Inclusion (IFI) has been used to assess the level of financial inclusion in Tripura.


2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 337-355
Author(s):  
Howard Chitimira ◽  
Menelisi Ncube

AbstractThis article discusses the challenges affecting the achievement of financial inclusion for the poor and low-income earners in South Africa. The concept of financial inclusion could be defined as the provision of affordable financial products and services to all members of the society by the government and/or other relevant role-players such as financial services providers. This article identifies unemployment, poverty, financial illiteracy, over-indebtedness, high bank fees, mistrust of the banking system, lack of relevant national identity documentation and poor legislative framework for financial inclusion as some of the challenges affecting the full attainment of financial inclusion for the poor and low-income earners in South Africa. Given these flaws, the article highlights the need for the government, financial institutions and other relevant stakeholders to adopt legislative and other measures as an antidote to financial exclusion and poverty challenges affecting the poor and low-income earners in South Africa.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-25
Author(s):  
S. Sheik Abdullah ◽  
A. Krishna Kumar

Financial inclusion takes into account the participation of vulnerable groups such as weaker sections of the society and low income groups, based on the extent of their access to financial services such as savings and payment account, credit insurance, pensions etc. Also the objective of financial inclusion exercise is easy availability of financial services which allows maximum investment in business opportunities, education, save for retirement, insurance against risks by the rural individuals and firms. The penetration of financial services in the rural areas of India is still very low. The factors responsible for this condition can be looked at from both supply side and demand side and the major reason for low penetration of financial services is, probably, lack of supply. The reasons for low demand for financial services could be low income level, lack of financial literacy, other bank accounts in the family, etc. On the other hand, the supply side factors include no bank branch in the vicinity, lack of suitable products meeting the needs of the poor people, complex processes and language barriers. There is no studies conducted earlier especially financial inclusion initiatives with refugee inhabitants. Therefore this study was undertaken to propose the model of refugee inhabitants towards financial inclusion initiatives by the banks. The exhibited model consisting four essential factors, which are very useful for measuring financial inclusion practices.


Author(s):  
Howard Chitimira ◽  
Phemelo Magau

The promotion of financial inclusion is important for the combating of financial exclusion in many countries, including South Africa. Nonetheless, most low-income earners living in rural areas and informal settlements are still struggling to gain access to basic financial products and financial services in South Africa. This status quo has been caused by a number of factors such as the absence of an adequate financial inclusion policy, the geographical remoteness of financial institutions to most low-income earners, rigid identity documentary requirements, a lack of access to reliable and affordable Internet connection by low-income earners living in informal settlements and rural areas, a lack of financial illiteracy, the high costs of financial services, unemployment and poverty, over-indebtedness, and cultural and psychological hindrances to low-income earners in South Africa. Consequently, these factors have somewhat limited the access to financial services offered by financial institutions to low-income earners living in rural areas and informal settlements. In many countries, including South Africa, the financial sector is relying on innovative technology, especially in banking institutions, to aid in the offering of financial services to their customers. It is against this background that this article discusses selected legal and related challenges affecting the regulation and use of innovative technology to promote financial inclusion for low-income earners in South Africa. The article further discusses possible measures that could be adopted by the government, financial institutions and other relevant regulatory bodies to promote the use of innovative technology to combat the financial exclusion of low-income earners in South Africa.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 146-157
Author(s):  
Mohana Krishna Irrinki ◽  
Kuberudu Burlakanti

All the stakeholders of the economy had identified the need and importance of financial inclusion in the overall development of any country. Banking sector plays a very vital role in the success of financial inclusion. Government and RBI had formulated various programs, schemes and financial services for the financial betterment of the low income groups. Various initiations were taken in implementing financial inclusion and banks were asked to set self-regulated targets through financial inclusion plans through which the unbanked villages across the country were assigned to various banks and these banks were asked to bring all the unbanked segments into the banking fold. The paper aims at the evaluation of financial inclusion through the various parameters considered for the growth of financial inclusion. The banks through the efforts of their branches and Business Correspondents have seen the continuous growth in opening the bank accounts, issue of Kisan Credit Cards & General Credit Cards and the volume and value of transactions in the bank accounts. Financial Inclusion Plans of the banks are helping a lot in moving towards inclusive growth.


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