Bridging the Digital Divide: Innovative Approaches to Enhancing Digital Financial Inclusion among Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes

• Author(s): Shivakumara PT
• Paper ID: 1700087
• Page: 87-92
• Published Date: 30-11-2017
• Published In: Iconic Research And Engineering Journals
• Publisher: IRE Journals
• e-ISSN: 2456-8880
• Volume/Issue: Volume 1 Issue 5 November-2017

Abstract

Digital Financial Services (DFS) hold the possibility of delivering financial inclusion to the final mile in a rapidly digitising country. Vulnerable and disadvantaged populations can use DFS to lessen the danger and cost of using cash, as well as gain access to a variety of financial services that might otherwise be unavailable or difficult to obtain, such as credit, savings, insurance, and pensions. This paper presents high-level information on the extent of digitization across India's demographic categories as well as an overview of the policy framework governing digital finance in India. The report then goes on to discuss digital preparedness, present use of digital financial services, and special concerns and solutions for three vulnerable and marginalised groups with significant digitization potential: women, micro entrepreneurs, and domestic migrants. The quest to accomplish the United Nations Sustainable Development Targets (SDGs) by 2030, particularly goals like no poverty, gender equality, decent employment and economic growth, innovation, and decreased disparities, relies heavily on technology-driven financial inclusion. A financially inclusive society will assist economies in reaping the benefits of increased economic growth, which will eliminate poverty and inequality of opportunity. With great prospects come possible risks and obstacles when it comes to digital financial inclusion. Technology-driven initiatives may result in considerable exclusion on several levels, worsening the current digital gap, particularly among SMEs; raise concerns about consumer data privacy; and increase the frequency of cybersecurity breaches. These issues, if not solved, may restrict the benefits of digitization. People are becoming more aware of financial products and services as a result of their reliance on digital financial technologies, which contributes to digital financial inclusion. This digital financial inclusion adds to the community's socioeconomic change.

Keywords

Digital financial inclusion, digital financial technologies, digital preparedness, consumer data privacy, cybersecurity breaches, policy framework

Citations

IRE Journals:
Shivakumara PT "Bridging the Digital Divide: Innovative Approaches to Enhancing Digital Financial Inclusion among Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 1 Issue 5 2017 Page 87-92

IEEE:
Shivakumara PT "Bridging the Digital Divide: Innovative Approaches to Enhancing Digital Financial Inclusion among Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 1(5)