Development Studies, Social Policy & Administration

Transforming Gender Relations through Digital Financial Inclusion in India

Transforming Gender Relations through Digital Financial Inclusion in India

Digital financial inclusion is crucial for empowering women and achieving gender equality, with initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) holding promise, but requiring intersectional approaches to truly benefit marginalized groups.

Authors

Geeta Sinha, Associate Professor, Jindal School of Government and Public Policy, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, India

Bhabani Shankar Nayak, Guildhall School of Business and Law, London Metropolitan University, UK

Summary

This article provides a brief overview of digital financial inclusion for marginalised and vulnerable populations, particularly women. The focus is on understanding the status and how digital financial inclusion for women is critical for achieving gender parity, their empowerment and overall gender equality.

The article assesses the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), which claims to promote financial inclusion and gender equality by extending and expanding affordable access to financial services such as bank accounts, remittances, credit, insurance and pensions. The framework of intersectionality is used to theorise digital financial inclusion and its implications for marginalised and vulnerable sections of society, followed by policy recommendations.

Published in: Journal of Asian and African Studies

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