scholarly journals FINANCIAL INCLUSION: A PRELUDE TO ECONOMIC STATUS OF VULNERABLE GROUP

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.

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.


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 63 (01) ◽  
pp. 111-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
PETER J. MORGAN ◽  
VICTOR PONTINES

Developing economies are seeking to promote financial inclusion, i.e., greater access to financial services for low-income households and firms. This raises the question of whether greater financial inclusion tends to increase or decrease financial stability. A number of studies have suggested both positive and negative impacts on financial stability, but very few empirical studies have been made. This study focuses on the implications of greater financial inclusion for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for financial stability. It estimates the effects of measures of the share of bank lending to SMEs on two measures of financial stability — bank nonperforming loans and bank Z scores. We find some evidence that an increased share of lending to SMEs aids financial stability by reducing non-performing loans (NPLs) and the probability of default by financial institutions.


Author(s):  
Mahesh K. M. ◽  
P. S. Aithal ◽  
Sharma K. R. S.

Purpose: The foremost intent of this research article is to create awareness about various schemes for the productive sector of agriculture. Through this study, the level of performance of these agricultural schemes and programmes were analysed that will be helpful for the attainment of financial inclusion. Hence it is necessary to know about various schemes and their making to connect the beneficiaries. Agriculture is the basic source of food supply, production, processing, promotion and distribution. Agricultural products contribute to Gross Domestic Product (G.D.P.) and generate employment in rural areas. They transform the lives of the farmers in modern society. The government of India has introduced Minimum Support Price (MPS), MIF, PMKSY, PMFBY, e-NAM, PM-KISAN, PMJDY, PM-KUSUM, PKVY, NAMS, and MGNREGS. The mobile app KisanSuvidha and innovative programmes like Kisan Rail, KrishiUdaan double the farmers’ Income (DFI). These help in transforming village economy, coverage of irrigation, crop insurance, and stabilizing the income. They also ensure financial support, flow of credit and Direct Benefit transfer of subsidies and funds to beneficiaries. Adopting modern technology, farm-based activity, poultry, dairy, forestry, beekeeping and with the support of SHGs which will directly impact productivity, profitability, financial inclusion, and the welfare of farmers in the 21st century and development of the country’s economy. Design/ methodology/approaches: This study is all about the theoretical concepts based on analysis of various schemes and interconnect. Findings and results: This study reveals that the effectiveness of various agricultural programs and also identifies the benefits and beneficiaries of these schemes. Under this research, various financial services, subsidies, funds released, online platform for agricultural products, funds for micro-irrigation, and so on benefits provided by the government of India were studied. Originality/value: Analysed the various schemes and compelled its beneficiaries and develop a modern to achieve financial inclusion and economic growth through the study. Type of Paper: Research Analysis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (521) ◽  
pp. 228-234
Author(s):  
D. M. Hladkykh ◽  

The article is aimed at substantiating the feasibility of creating a specialized postal bank in Ukraine, to define the list of related risks and possible directions for their reduction. The following key risks that hinder the establishment of a postal bank in Ukraine are identified: risk of lack of full control over the directions of investment of accumulated deposits of the population on the part of the NBU; liquidity risk; risk of non-compliance by the postal operator with economic standards that are mandatory for banking institutions; risk of capital deficit; risk of inability to support the postal operator with refinancing; risk of mass withdrawal of deposits by customers; risk of insufficient competence of «Ukrposhta» employees to comply with the requirements of financial monitoring; risks associated with the collection of large amounts of cash; risk of further growth of the share of the State-owned institutions in the banking market; risk of shortage of funds to close the agreement on the purchase of «Ukrposhta» by an already operating bank. Possible directions of minimization of these risks are proposed, in particular: implementation of key elements of successful experience in the banking services market of JSPPB «Aval»; defining as the target segment of clients of the new postal bank of the pensioners, who are currently customers of post offices, and as the basis of its resource base – the future pension and current accounts of individuals; use by «Ukrposhta» of the so-called «agency» model of financial services provision; association of «Ukrposhta» and «Oschadbank» into the State-owned Postal Bank; development of a list of key performance indicators for employees and branches of the new postal bank; development of a list of measures directed towards significantly improving the level of qualification of personnel of «Ukrposhta» branches; installation of POS-terminals and payment terminals in all post offices located in rural areas; establishment of individual economic standards for the new postal bank for the period of its full adaptation to activities in the banking market.


Author(s):  
Howard Chitimira ◽  
Elfas Torerai

The advent of mobile money innovations has given people in rural areas, informal settlements and other poor communities an opportunity to participate in Zimbabwe's mainstream financial economy. However, the technology-driven money services have presented some challenges to the traditional banking sector in general and the regulation of financial services in particular. Firstly, most mobile money services are products of telecommunication corporations, which are not banks. Telecommunication companies use their network reach to provide mobile money services via mobile devices at a cheaper cost than banks across the country in Zimbabwe. As such, banks face unprecedented competition from telecommunications companies that are venturing into financial services. It also appears that prudential regulation of banks cannot keep up with the fast pace at which technological innovations are developing and this has created a disjuncture between the regulation and the use of technological innovations to promote financial inclusion in Zimbabwe. The Banking Act [Chapter 24:20] 9 of 1999, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Act [Chapter 22:15] 5 of 1999 and the National Payment Systems Act [Chapter 24:23] 21 of 2001 have a limited scope in terms of the regulation of mobile money services in Zimbabwe. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development launched the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) 2016-2020 to provide impetus to the financial inclusion of the poor, unbanked and low-income earners in Zimbabwe. However, the NFIS appears to push more for bank-led financial inclusion than it does for innovation-driven initiatives such as mobile money services. This article highlights the positive influence of mobile money services in improving financial inclusion for the poor, unbanked and low-income earners in Zimbabwe. The article also seeks to point out gaps and flaws in the financial services regulatory framework that may limit the potential of mobile money services to reach more people so that they actively participate in the Zimbabwean economy. It is submitted that the Zimbabwean mobile money services regulations and the financial regulatory framework should be carefully amended in line with the recent innovations in mobile money to adequately regulate the use of mobile money services and innovative technology to address the financial exclusion of the poor, unbanked and low-income earners in Zimbabwe.


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.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajesh Tripathi ◽  
Swati Gupta

Inclusive development is the key to general economic growth for any economy. In any place in the world, providing financial services to this overlooked section of society is a testing assignment. The Government in India has concerns about large underprivileged population that is still reluctant to be a part of standard monetary exercises. A slew of innovation in financial services such as technology and a couple of development endeavors are being mooted and implemented. The paper is planned to dissect current status of financial services in rural regions of Uttarakhand and to recognise factors impacting interest of financial services in this area. The study suggests that though access to financial services in rural territorial areas is reasonable, there is still room for improvement in financial infrastructure. The findings confirm the relationship among ancillary, support systems, financial apparatus and intended financial inclusive measures. The exhaustive correlational study also establishes the fact that working on constructive elements and variables would bring positive results in the field of financial inclusion drive in rural and suburban areas of Uttarakhand.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinay Kandpal

India is a country with diversity noticeable in each division of life as well as financial services. The current study examines the initiatives taken by the Ministry of Finance and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to intensify the accessibility to investment opportunities in financial instruments for the poor or deprived section of society, the initiatives taken in past, present scenario and to recommend the initiatives for the longer term. Households living in rural areas or having low income usually lack access to banking services or financial services. It is tough for these families to save and to arrange financial resources for the longer term. The ease of access and usage of the financial services and products influences the economic health of the individuals as well as of the state. It has been analyzed that the most important barrier towards accessibility of financial service is the psychological and the profitability of banks. There is a requirement for a robust, dynamic research-based business model with regard to an innovative, digitalized and sound economic system.


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.


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