Financial Inclusion Among Household Womenin Trivandrum District – an Evaluative Perspective

Abstract

Financial inclusion plays an important role in improving the economic security and financial well-being of households. Household women are important participants in family budgeting, saving, borrowing and financial decision-making. However, lack of financial awareness, limited income, inadequate digital knowledge, documentation requirements, fear of online transactions and limited access to suitable financial products may create barriers to their effective participation in the formal financial system. The present study examines the level of financial inclusion among household women and identifies the major problems and challenges faced by them in Trivandrum District. The study is based on both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected from 75 household women through a structured questionnaire. The respondents were selected using convenient sampling. Percentage analysis, weighted average technique and Chi-square test were used for analysing the data. The study considers socio-economic characteristics such as age, marital status, type of family, educational qualification, occupation and monthly family income along with financial inclusion-related variables such as bank account ownership, savings habit, digital banking usage and financial awareness. The analysis indicates that lack of financial awareness, irregular income, inadequate digital financial knowledge and fear of financial fraud are among the important challenges faced by household women. The study suggests strengthening women-oriented financial literacy programmes, digital banking awareness, simplified banking procedures and accessible financial counselling services...