Technology for Financial Inclusion

Abstract

Financial inclusion is one of the top most policy priorities of Government of India. The actual agenda is social inclusion of which financial inclusion is an integral part. Financial inclusion is "the process of ensuring access to financial services, timely and adequate credit where needed by vulnerable groups such as weaker sections and low income groups at an affordable cost.” In today’s rapidly changing and competitive industry, most institutions are looking hard at the potential benefits to be derived from Information and communication technology. More than 50% of the adult population in our country is excluded from the financial sector, It is not just people in rural areas, Many of the lower income categories of the urban population are also excluded because of transaction costs of financial services to the poor, financial illiteracy. With the use of latest information & Communication technology it is to reduce transaction costs, improve awareness, provide access of information in all forms to excluded group and also to simplify the transaction time, Simplify the transaction processes, increase the security improve other transaction facilities for the included group. The present paper makes an attempt to pave the way for achieving financial inclusion to the maximum by Proper use of the Technological innovations to the optimum possible extent.