IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jjrfmx/v17y2024i6p217-d1399323.html

Empowering Self-Help Groups: The Impact of Financial Inclusion on Social Well-Being

Author

Listed:
  • Madan Survase

    (International School of Business & Media, Nande, Pune 412115, Maharashtra, India)

  • Atmajitsinh Gohil

    (Independent Researcher, New York City, NY 10019, USA)

Abstract

Financial inclusion (FI) relates to the access and availability of financial services to society, especially in low-income groups. FI is pivotal in achieving 7 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper explores the level of FI in the rural areas of Maharashtra and measures the impact of FI on the social conditions of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) prevalent in these areas. The study is based on a 424 SHGs survey conducted in the Pune, Thane, and Palghar districts of Maharashtra, India. The impact of FI on SHGs is evaluated using a Structural Equation Model (SEM). The results of the study show that physical banking services, Business Facilitators (BFs), and Business Correspondents (BCs) improve the social conditions of rural SHGs. Additionally, BCs and BFs mediate the relationship between physical banking services and social conditions. The study also reveals an insignificant association between BCs and BFs and insurance services. The present study highlights the importance of increasing the awareness of insurance policies through financial literacy programs and making timely availability and accessibility of BCs and BFs to enhance financial inclusion in rural areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Madan Survase & Atmajitsinh Gohil, 2024. "Empowering Self-Help Groups: The Impact of Financial Inclusion on Social Well-Being," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-17, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jjrfmx:v:17:y:2024:i:6:p:217-:d:1399323
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1911-8074/17/6/217/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1911-8074/17/6/217/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tarsem Lal, 2021. "Impact of financial inclusion on economic development of marginalized communities through the mediation of social and economic empowerment," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 48(12), pages 1768-1793, August.
    2. Shailesh Rastogi & Ragabiruntha E., 2018. "Financial inclusion and socioeconomic development: gaps and solution," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 45(7), pages 1122-1140, July.
    3. De Silva, M.M.G.T. & Kawasaki, Akiyuki, 2018. "Socioeconomic Vulnerability to Disaster Risk: A Case Study of Flood and Drought Impact in a Rural Sri Lankan Community," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 131-140.
    4. Peterson K. Ozili & Adekemi Ademiju & Semia Rachid, 2022. "Impact of financial inclusion on economic growth: review of existing literature and directions for future research," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 50(8), pages 1105-1122, October.
    5. Mahyudin Ahmad & Siong Hook Law, 2024. "Financial development, institutions, and economic growth nexus: A spatial econometrics analysis using geographical and institutional proximities," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(3), pages 2699-2721, July.
    6. Abay Asfaw & Joachim Braun, 2005. "Innovations in Health Care Financing: New Evidence on the Prospect of Community Health Insurance Schemes in the Rural Areas of Ethiopia," International Journal of Health Economics and Management, Springer, vol. 5(3), pages 241-253, September.
    7. Rajesh Barik & Sanjaya Kumar Lenka & Jajati K. Parida, 2022. "Financial Inclusion and Human Development in Indian States: Evidence from the Post-Liberalisation Periods," Indian Journal of Human Development, , vol. 16(3), pages 513-527, December.
    8. Aman Pushp & Rahul Singh Gautam & Vikas Tripathi & Jagjeevan Kanoujiya & Shailesh Rastogi & Venkata Mrudula Bhimavarapu & Neha Parashar, 2023. "Impact of Financial Inclusion on India’s Economic Development under the Moderating Effect of Internet Subscribers," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-15, May.
    9. Swamy, Vighneswara, 2014. "Financial Inclusion, Gender Dimension, and Economic Impact on Poor Households," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 1-15.
    10. Siphesihle Myeni & Marshall Makate & Nyasha Mahonye, 2020. "Does mobile money promote financial inclusion in Eswatini?," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 47(6), pages 693-709, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. E. Bonhoure & R. Bawack, 2024. "Review of the Coverage of Financial Inclusion Research Since the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals: What Has Changed?," Post-Print hal-04828293, HAL.
    2. Jeswin Jose & Nabanita Ghosh, 2025. "Digital financial literacy and financial inclusion in the global south for a sustainable future: A scoping review," DECISION: Official Journal of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Springer;Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, vol. 52(1), pages 129-148, March.
    3. Kuldeep Singh & Madhvendra Misra & Jitendra Yadav, 2021. "Corporate social responsibility and financial inclusion: Evaluating the moderating effect of income," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(5), pages 1263-1274, July.
    4. Mohammed Hersi Warsame & Yousif Abdelbagi Abdalla, 2024. "Impact of mobile financial services on financial inclusion: empirical insights from Kenya," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 71(3), pages 633-666, September.
    5. Peterson K. Ozili & David Mhlanga, 2024. "Why is financial inclusion so popular? An analysis of development buzzwords," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 36(1), pages 231-253, January.
    6. Salman Mahmood & Wen Shuhui & Shoaib Aslam & Tanveer Ahmed, 2023. "Financial Inclusion: Does it matter in Alleviating Poverty in Pakistan," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 169(3), pages 1125-1146, October.
    7. Vavangani Ishtiyaq Nadeem & Khalid Waheed & Arshiya Fathima M.S, 2024. "Financial inclusion of Muslim minority in Vellore, Tamil Nadu," Economic Notes, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA, vol. 53(1), February.
    8. Muhammad Suhrab & Chen Pinglu & Ningyu Qian, 2025. "Role of technological innovation for enhancing financial inclusion to reduce income inequality in BRICS economies," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 9(4), pages 1145-1180, December.
    9. Afrika Onguko Okello, 2025. "Gender Gaps, Financial Inclusion and Social Integration in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya," Economies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-20, March.
    10. Xiaobing Yu & Hong Chen & Chenliang Li, 2019. "Evaluate Typhoon Disasters in 21st Century Maritime Silk Road by Super-Efficiency DEA," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-10, May.
    11. Tarna Silue, 2021. "Financial Inclusion and Economic Growth : Evidence in the Digital Environment of Developing Countries," Working Papers hal-03281843, HAL.
    12. Gambetta, Nicolás & García-Benau, María Antonia & Zorio-Grima, Ana, 2016. "Data analytics in banks' audit: The case of loan loss provisions in Uruguay," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(11), pages 4793-4797.
    13. Yao-bin Wang & Jin-hang Zhao & Rong Yao & Rui-tao Zhao & Ying Li, 2022. "Risk of Poverty Returning to the Tibetan Area of Gansu Province in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-21, September.
    14. David Damiyano & Stephen Mago, 2023. "An Analysis of the Impact of Financial Inclusion on Poverty and Development: Case of SACU Countries," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 13(6), pages 141-147, November.
    15. Wang, Xiong & Wang, Xiao & Ren, Xiaohang & Wen, Fenghua, 2022. "Can digital financial inclusion affect CO2 emissions of China at the prefecture level? Evidence from a spatial econometric approach," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    16. Emon Kalyan Chowdhury & Rupam Chowdhury, 2024. "Role of Financial Inclusion in Human Development: Evidence from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 3329-3354, March.
    17. Nicholas Bamegne Nambie & Philomena Dadzie & Dorcas Oye Haywood-Dadzie, 2023. "Measuring the Effect of Income Inequality, Financial Inclusion, Investment, and Unemployment, on Economic Growth in Africa: A Moderating Role of Digital Financial Technology," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 13(4), pages 111-124, July.
    18. Manzoor Hussain Memon, 2023. "Poverty, Gap and Severity Estimates for Disaster Prone Rural Areas of Pakistan," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 166(3), pages 645-663, April.
    19. Rouse, Marybeth & Verhoef, y Grietjie, 2017. "Mobile banking in Sub-Saharan Africa: setting the way towards financial development," MPRA Paper 78006, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    20. Chandralekha Ghosh & Rimita Hom Chaudhury, 2019. "Gender Gap in case of Financial Inclusion: An Empirical Analysis in Indian Context," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 39(4), pages 2615-2630.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jjrfmx:v:17:y:2024:i:6:p:217-:d:1399323. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.