scholarly journals STATUS OF FINANCIAL INCLUSION IN HILLY RURAL AREAS OF UTTARAKHAND: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PAURI, CHAMOLI AND RUDRAPRAYAG DISTRICT

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Prashant Kandari

Hill Rural regions of Uttarakhand are inherent part of the state and were the prominent reason on the basis of which Uttarakhand state was carved out of Uttar Pradesh. Unfortunately the underdevelopment of these regions due to the aspect of ‘Area Deprivation’ associated with them has led to emergence of prominent problems like unemployment, lack of income generating opportunities and poverty leading further to a major problem of rural outmigration from them. To raise the economic condition of households of these regions it is important to enhance the income generating opportunities and to provide financial services which could cover up the majority of population with the social security net. The major way out to achieve them is through increase in financial inclusion. The present study through help of primary data examines the level of financial inclusion in the hill rural regions of Uttarakhand for which FII is computed on the basis of 4 dimensions of financial inclusion. The FII of the rural regions of development blocks of hill districts is compared with the FII of the all Indian rural households to examine the status of financial exclusion in hill rural regions of the state.

2020 ◽  
pp. 222-234
Author(s):  
Anis ur Rehman

The Regional Rural Banks are government-owned, regionally based and rurally oriented financial institutions specialized in catering to the credit needs of the neglected and weaker sections of the society. In the recent past, RRBs have become a potent mediator for financial inclusion in rural areas. This paper summarizes the innovative methods used by the employees of these banks in deposit mobilizations, credit expansion and recovery of the loan. The primary purpose of the research is to find the problems faced by officials of these banks in marketing their services to the rural customer. The opinions of these bank officials regarding the above factors and the functioning of these banks and their impact on society have also been studied. For this purpose, a sample of 96 bank officials of Aryavart bank and Purvanchal Bank have been taken from the rural areas of Uttar Pradesh. Methodological tools of the research methods were Frequency and Chi-square test of independence which have been used to test the hypotheses developed in the study. The research empirically confirms and theoretically proves that the employees and staff of these two regional rural banks in the state are making their earnest effort to channelize the savings of rural people by mobilization of deposits by motivating them to deposit their surplus money in the regional rural banks. The bank officials are making efforts to extend credit facilities in rural areas to uplift the people economically. The bank officials are facing problems in deposit mobilization, and credit expansion in the rural areas of the state and they are managing these problems very efficiently. Some political interference was found in the functioning of these banks. In the opinion of these bank officials, the overall working of these regional rural banks is proper. The results of the research can be useful for policymakers in the government to understand the hurdles faced by regional rural banks in reaching to the poor and needy sections of the society. The insights from this paper can help the policymakers to craft innovative schemes which enable these banks to reach the most inaccessible customers in rural areas. Keywords Regional Rural Banks, deposit mobilizations, credit expansion, financial inclusion, loan recovery.


Author(s):  
Mumna Nazar

<div><p><em>Financial inclusion is a buzz word today. It plays an important role in driving away the poverty from the country. Financial inclusion is the process of ensuring financial services to the weaker sections of the society at an affordable cost. As per the Sachar Committee Report, Muslims in India are financially excluded. Even though they have an account, the extent of usage is very low due to the religious reasons.  The Non-Muslims also do not actively engage in the formal financial system due to the interest involvement. Islamic Bank can serve as a remedy for the financial exclusion of the Muslims as well as Non-Muslims community. The objective of this paper is to understand the extent of financial inclusion among the people in Kerala and their awareness and preference towards Islamic banking. Both primary and secondary data are collected for the study. Secondary data are collected from various secondary sources like published articles, journals, reports, books and websites. Primary data are collected with the help of questionnaire among people in Kerala. The study revealed that most of the respondents have accessed bank accounts but the extent of usage is only for namesake. Moreover the awareness and preference towards Islamic Banking is very high among the Muslims as well as Non-Muslims and suggested that proper care must be taken for introducing Islamic banking system in India. It will ultimately leads to the inclusive growth of our country.</em></p></div>


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-30
Author(s):  
Sanjeet Mahapatra ◽  
Anand Pandey ◽  
Badri Narayanan

The main purpose of the study is to develop theoretical and practical principles for analyzing the economic efficiency of the program to guarantee employment in rural areas in India. This program of support and active promotion of employment of the rural population is the result of the adoption of the Law on Guarantees of Employment in Rural Areas. The relevance of the choice of this scientific problem is that most scientific papers focus on assessing the effectiveness of the implementation of this legal act at the macro level, while the article analyzes this issue at the level of a particular locality. The object of the study was the village of Sanatpur in Uttar Pradesh, India. The study conducted a survey of participants in the program to guarantee employment in this rural area, which served as a basis for primary data, as well as used official statistics on the implementation of this program in the country. Descriptive statistics methods were used to analyze the effectiveness of the program to guarantee employment in rural areas. The article analyzes the mechanism of implementation of the program to guarantee employment in rural areas, namely the peculiarities of job creation in rural areas, the formation of wage policy, as well as the payment of wages to local residents. The field study identified key difficulties in implementing the above program: insufficient awareness of villagers about the opportunities and benefits of participating in the approved employment support program, as well as low access to basic financial services and lack of almost 70% of the rural population individual bank accounts. The results of the study can be useful for local and national governments in the field of social protection and social security. Keywords: decentralized planning, wage payment, job guarantee.


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.


Author(s):  
N. P. Abdul Azeez ◽  
M. Nasira Banu

One of the significant competencies required in the contemporary scenario is an awareness or knowledge of varied financial affairs and the skill to handle matters apropos of finance. The dearth of financial literacy precludes rural people from the country's formal financial system and created a rural-urban financial divide, especially in the digitalized era. Effective incorporation of financial literacy in formal education will lead to greater access to financial services. This paper tries to find the rural-urban financial literacy divide based on the primary data collected from two states of India, namely Kerala and Uttar Pradesh. A total of 400 samples respondents were taken by using the multi-stage sampling technique. A comprehensive approach for measuring financial literacy is developed by constructing the Financial Literacy Index (FLI), which comprises financial knowledge, financial behaviour, and financial attitude. The results concluded with the rural-urban financial literacy divide findings as the financial literacy in rural areas is consistently lower than in urban. The results expose the need for a persistent and prolonged intervention from all the stakeholders, including policymakers, to enhance and sustain financial literacy to accomplish a bright financial decision making by the rural people.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Special Issue) ◽  
pp. 277-299
Author(s):  
Salihah Sharizan ◽  
Nur Harena Redzuan ◽  
Romzie Rosman

Financial inclusion (FI) appears to be one of the main global agendas as it is an essential way of reducing poverty and increasing the economic growth of a country. FI is the provision of financial services to all segments of society in a more convenient, quality, and affordable way. In this study, the authors analyzed the issues and challenges faced from the two perspectives of the Financial Institutions (FIs) and the rural B40 group concerning the way of pursuing the exclusive of FI. Primary data was collected by conducting semi-structured interviews with four expert bankers from the Financial Institutions (FIs) in Kuala Rompin, Pahang, and two representatives from the B40 customers in the rural areas of Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia. Based on the findings, barriers faced by the supply sides of the FIs include 1) high risk of cost and security, 2) barriers in communication and lack of financial education, and 3) lack of proof documents. The other challenges are 1) competition with the conventional institutions, 2) default risk due to non-payment, and 3) internet connection problem. On the demand side, the issues and challenges found include 1) lack of confidence, 2) lack of proof documents, 3) misuse of capital, and 4) lack of financial literacy. Henceforth, the findings have significant implications for the Islamic banking and finance industry in exploring the current barriers faced in delivering financial inclusion to the lower segment of the society in Malaysia.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-90
Author(s):  
Oana Mirela Cojocaru (Diaconescu) ◽  
Otilia Georgiana Floroiu

Factors leading to financial exclusion are primary linked to shortages of financial resources, high costs for financial services, distrust in financial institutions, and lack of financial education. Financial inclusion of the population can sustain economic monetary and financial stability by taking efficient saving and investing decisions or by boosting the performance of an economy. In a responsible financial system, people can safely save money without fearing losing it as a result of fraud, theft, or operational errors, can conduct financial transactions, can take a loan for consumption or for investing in personal development or business idea with a proper understanding of the terms and conditions, and they can insure themselves against any kind of risk. Considering that financial exclusion leads to social exclusion, the need to establish institutions that can offer marginalized categories of the population access to different financing means is obvious, especially in rural areas. People can use financing for self-employment or for implementing entrepreneurial ideas that can generate new jobs and revenue for the community. This paper adds to the existing literature in identifying the existing relations between financial inclusion and economic growth and further investigates if an increase in the level of financial inclusion has an impact on achieving the convergence criteria and therefore entering the Eurozone.


Author(s):  
Samson Mutuku Mule ◽  
Fredrick Wafula ◽  
Nickson Agusioma

Financial inclusion is crucial in fostering individual prosperity, poverty eradication and stimulating economic growth. It is therefore a major policy concern for majority of governments across the world. Despite the rampant growth of financial technology in Kenya, the number of adults who are financially excluded is still high among the rural area residents. Lack of financial services access in rural areas has resulted to rural economic growth retardation and inequality. Further, financial exclusion has led to increased poverty levels because those excluded have been forced to depend on their limited savings to pursue their entrepreneurial interests. Small businesses have had no choice but to rely on their inadequate earnings to pursue viable business opportunities. The main objective of this study was to establish the effect of financial technology loans on financial inclusion among the unbanked low-income earners in Makueni County. Descriptive research design was used, with the target population being the unbanked low-income earners over the age of 18 in Makueni County. A sample size of 384 respondents was chosen using the convenience sampling technique. Personal interviews were conducted using an interview guide to collect primary data. The study found that fintech loans have a positive and significant effect on financial inclusion among the unbanked low-income earners in Makueni County. According to the findings of the study, since the unbanked people in Makueni County associate the use of financial technology loans to meeting personal financial needs and especially coping up with day-to-day expenses and emergencies, this study recommends that such people embrace the use of the fintech loans more as it will aid them in improving their financial lives to a greater extent. This is because for instance, by using the fintech loans, they can create employment for themselves and generate sufficient income by financing micro businesses using this credit.


Author(s):  
Kisotu David Melubo ◽  
Salome Musau

Financial inclusion is an important step in development, as access to finances can help the women to build money and lift themselves out of poverty. Lack of financial inclusion among women in Narok County is one of the many factors leading to financial exclusion and an introduction of digital banking is the remedy to its problems. Financial inclusion of women contributes immensely in empowering them. Digital banking in Kenya has been characterized by rapid technological change in the finance sector that has led to the development of mobile banking, online banking, ATMs and agency banking. The banking sector has undergone substantive transformation particularly from the year 2007. This study sought to establish the effects of digital banking and financial inclusion of Women Enterprises in Narok County, Kenya. Financial inclusion includes the provision of affordable financial services, which includes; access to payments and remittance facilities, savings, loans and insurance services by the formal financial system to those who tend to be excluded The study was anchored on finance growth theory and financial asymmetric theory. This study used descriptive research design and data was collected from the target population of all the 184 women owned enterprise in Narok County, Kenya. For this study census sampling was adopted to where all the population will be included in study since the number of target population is 184. Primary data was collected using a semi structured questionnaire to be administered to the women business owner through face to face interviews. The collected data was analysed using descriptive statistics methods; mean, mode, median, standard deviation, percentages and frequencies. Inferential statistical methods included multiple regression analysis was used to establish the relationship among variables. It was established that digital banking services significantly and positively influenced financial inclusion of women enterprises in Narok County. The study concluded that agency banking, mobile banking, online banking and ATM services significantly influenced the access and use of banking services by the locally based women enterprises in Narok County. It was further concluded that the women enterprises did not adequately use online banking due to limited literacy level, computer proficiency and internet availability. The study recommends that the available financial sector players in Narok County needs to sensitize SMEs especially women-owned to ensure that they are aware of the digital services available to be in the loop to enhance financial inclusion. The study recommends that the available digital banking providers need to improve formation of groups among the users of the services to enable improve usability. The study recommends further that the women enterprises managers and proprietors need to be in groups to develop each other and assist access, use and improve digital banking and financial inclusion.


Author(s):  
Jeniskumar Chauhan ◽  
Yogesh C. Joshi

The benefits of economic development must reach to the bottom of the pyramid population. Therefore, it is imperative that population in rural areas is brought in the formal financial system in an economy like India. People whose living in rural or semi urban areas are deprived and underprivileged to get necessary formal financial products and services almost in all developing countries like India. Those living in rural areas still find it difficult to avail appropriate financial services in time, which act as an impediment in their effort to lead a healthy and better life. In any part of country supplying financial services to this vast and underprivileged segment of society is a challenging task. The paper is an attempt to study status of challenges of financial inclusion in selected rural areas of Gujarat. This study is intended to analyze current status of demand and supply side barriers of financial inclusion in selected rural areas of Gujarat state. The efforts for financial inclusion, through policy formulation and programme implementation will be studied and an attempt will be made to identify challenges in promoting financial inclusion in rural areas of Gujarat. The study will be based on primary data, Secondary data have also been used to substantiate results and identify government efforts in financial inclusion. Collected data have been analyzed using frequency analysis, percentage and use of SPSS. The conclusion will be used to suggest policy implications as well.


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