Financialization of women proceeding at a rapid pace: Senior SBI official

Both women depositors and borrowers have risen in the country as a lot of policies/missions based on the lifecycle approach for women have been implemented by the government in the last eight years, Ghosh said.

"Schemes like MUDRA loan, Sukanya Samriddhi, Women scholarships, Ujjawala etc. along-with PMJDY provide various financial instruments in the hands of women. The share of women stands at 81 percent in Stand-Up India, 71 percent in MUDRA loans, 37 percent in PMSBY and 27 percent in PMJJBY, which is encouraging," Ghosh added.

According to ‘Deposits with Scheduled Commercial Banks – March 2022 (BSR 2)’, the share of women depositors in incremental bank deposits during FY22 increased to 35 percent from 15 percent in FY21, a whopping raise of 20 percentage points.

"Even if we consider the share of women depositors in FY22 over FY20 (as FY21 was an exceptional year) in incremental bank deposits, the share increased by 6 percentage points," he stated.

One of the possible reasons for enhanced traction in opening of women accounts seems to be focus on opening accounts for all the members of SHGs (as against those of President and Secretary earlier).

Intriguingly, the share of women depositors in Private Sector Banks and Small Finance Banks remained constant in FY22 as compared to FY20.

The share of women depositors in Foreign Banks declined by Rs11 percentage points.Interestingly the same amount of increase was exhibited in the case of PSBs.

The state-wise analysis indicates that the top four big states where the share of women depositors increased in FY22 over FY20 are UP, Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala.

The declining share of women depositors in states like Delhi, MP and few North Eastern states is quite disturbing and needs course correction at the earliest.

Regarding women borrowers, according to ‘Quarterly Basic Statistical Returns (BSR)-1: Outstanding Credit of Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs), March 2022’, credit to women borrowers (9.1 crore accounts) has stood at 22.5 ercent share in bank loans to individuals, during 2021-22.

Ghosh further said, "If we look at sector-wise credit to women customers, it indicates that credit has increased in almost all major sectors like agri, industry (Mining, Manufacturing, Electricity, Gas & water) and trade. However, a little decline was seen in personal loans segments.

"This seems, Covid19 pandemic has encouraged women to take MSME loans, which was guaranteed through ECLGS schemes."