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India’s demonetization makes low-deposit accounts ‘parking lots for black money’
Jan Dhan accounts, integral to the Modi government’s plan for financial inclusion and direct benefit transfer, were meant to have a transformational role in the uplift of the underprivileged, but, ironically, demonetisation has made them a parking lot for black money. Official sources told FE that these accounts saw transactions of R19,250 crore in the 10 days to November 19; over R15,000 crore was deposited and some R4,250 crore was withdrawn.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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Accion Venture Lab: Fintech Lenders Leveraging Technology to Close Critical Funding Gap for Small Businesses
Accion Venture Lab, the seed-stage investment initiative of financial inclusion leader Accion, released a report today on the latest innovations in the field of micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) finance. The report explores how innovative, tech-enabled lenders are using niche marketing, digital or mobile platforms, and enterprising partnerships – and often a combination of all three – to make financing available to underserved MSMEs.
- Categories
- Investing
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New Pathways to Financial Inclusion for Low-Income Women
Developing countries have made great strides on financial inclusion in recent years, but a gender gap remains. A new report analyzes women’s stories and their detailed cash flows over time from financial diaries data collected in Kenya, India and Mexico, offering insight into why women in emerging economies don’t use formal financial services to the same extent as men.
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- Uncategorized
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Pakistan’s Central Bank Calls India’s Cash War ‘Extreme’
Pakistan’s central bank Governor Ashraf Mahmood Wathra called India’s shock clampdown on cash an “extreme” step to boost financial inclusion, tax collection and battle graft, as the neighboring nation implements its own plans to double the number of people using banks within four years.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
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MIX and MetLife Foundation Partner to Promote Financial Inclusion Through Data and Insight
MIX announced today an $825,000, 2-year partnership with MetLife Foundation to promote financial inclusion by providing insight into financial service access in Mexico, Myanmar, Turkey and Vietnam. Through rich data, analytical tools and interactive dashboards, decision makers in these countries will have a powerful new resource to ensure positive social outcomes for the financially underserved.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- North America
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Paid, But Not Paying Off: Why G2P Payments Are Not Yet Driving Financial Inclusion
In 2012, the government of South Africa started making government to person (G2P) payments directly into bank accounts. While that move made the payments more efficient, it's been less effective in ensuring that recipients reap the benefits of being financially included. Turns out, very few, if any, of these recipients use their new bank account for anything other than withdrawing their cash.
- Categories
- Technology
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Indian government asks Paytm, Oxigen wallet to digitize rural cash
The government has dialled Paytm and Oxigen Wallet to help digitise cash transactions in rural India. The rural development ministry wants to rope in digital wallet firms to make the Rs 40,000 crore turnover of women’s self-help groups (SHGs) cashless and broaden financial inclusion.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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Asian Development Bank approves $40 million loan to help promote financial inclusion in Cambodia
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $40 million loan and a $600,000 technical assistance grant on Friday to help strengthen Cambodia’s financial sector and promote financial inclusion within the country’s unbanked population, according to the ADB’s statement.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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