Financial Inclusion -finacial literacy

Đa dạng hóa các hình thức tín dụng ngân hàng theo chuỗi giá trị gạo ở Việt Nam Trịnh Thị Thúy Hồng, Đặng Thị Thơi Trường Đại học Quy Nhơn Tóm tắt: Nghiên cứu về đa dạng hóa các hình thức tín dụng ngân hàng theo chuỗi giá trị gạo ở Việt Nam giúp các ngân hàng thương mại Việt Nam có thể đa dạng hóa có các dịch vụ của mình, đồng thời có thể mở rộng thị trường, hạn chế rủi ro tín dụng đối với lĩnh vực nông nghiệp. Nếu các ngân hàng thương mại có hướng đi thích hợp cho phân khúc tín dụng này thì Ngân hàng Nhà nước cũng sẽ phải có những chính sách hỗ trợ cho các NHTM, đồng thời Chính phủ cũng phải có những biện pháp thúc đẩy liên kết chuỗi giá trị theo nhiều mô hình khác nhau nhằm tăng thu nhập cho người trồng lúa nói riêng và cho các thành viên trong chuỗi giá trị gạo nói chung. Từ khóa: tín dụng, chuỗi giá trị nông nghiệp, chuỗi giá trị gạo, Việt Nam 1. Đặt vấn đề Gạo là một trong những mặt hàng nông sản xuất khẩu đem lại hàng tỷ USD cho Việt Nam [7], sản xuất gạo đã đem lại thu nhập cho người nông dân và là mặt hàng nông sản truyền thống của người dân Việt Nam. Tuy nhiên, sản lượng lúa, gạo được sản xuất ra ở Việt Nam trong 10 năm gần đây tăng không đáng kể (hình 1) mà còn giảm trong 2 năm 2016 và 2017 bởi vì nhiều nguyên nhân: Thứ nhất, hiệu quả sản xuất lúa thấp, nên người nông dân chuyển diện tích trồng lúa sang nuôi trồng cây, con khác. Thứ hai, những khu vực sản xuất lúa chính giảm diện tích vì hạn hán, xâm nhập mặn, thời tiết khắc nghiệt hơn cho việc trồng lúa. Thứ ba, sản lượng gạo dư thừa, năm nào dư thừa 7-8 triệu tấn gạo [8] nên giá gạo có xu hướng giảm, xuất khẩu cũng khó khăn hơn. Hình 1. Tổng sản lượng lúa, gạo, sản lượng gạo xuất khẩu của Việt Nam

Sanitation Workers have been one of the most marginalized segments of the society. While today, there is large focus on sanitation in our lives, the huge army of people that is at the background of bringing this quality to our life are these 'unsung heroes.'

To address the issues of financial inclusion a financial module has been developed to bridge this gap - 'PragatiDidi’s Tips – Financial Prosperity for Sanitation Workers.' This Financial Literacy module offers the opportunity to learn basic skills related to personal financial management, savings, loan management, investment, insurance, planning for old age/retirement and financial service providers. A special focus on the financial entitlements for the sanitation workers is undertaken in this document.

El presente proyecto, tiene la finalidad de proponer una crítica constructiva desde el ámbito del diseño que invita a re-pensar los espacios de aprendizaje dentro del aula, con la finalidad de aportar a la reflexión y aprendizaje de educación financiera por medio de dinámicas que incorporan herramientas de diseño junto al juego en talleres y clases.

A partir de una revisión de estrategias metodológicas que juntan el pensamiento de diseño, el diseño de experiencias y el diseño centrado en las personas, el proyecto recoge este nuevo acercamiento que implicó observar el interior del aula, se desarrolló como solución un prototipo de talleres experienciales de carácter lúdico que tienen como premisa re-configurar el espacio mismo de la sala de clases. Este taller se estructura en una introducción, desarrollo, cierre y evaluación y cuenta con herramientas gráficas que activan la reflexión sobre conceptos financieros. Este taller lleva por nombre REINICIA: La Educación Financiera Colaborativa.

The Indian Automobile Industry is growing at an average rate of 17 per cent for the past few years. During April-March
2012 production growth was 13.83 percent. An attempt is made to study the financial strength of this industry. The
data were collected for fifteen years for selected fifteen companies from the annual reports. The descriptive statistics
includes Mean, Standard Deviation. Analysis of variance is a tool used to test the differences amount the means of populations by examining the
amount of variation within each of these examples, relative to the amount of variation between the samples. The study provides companies with
understanding the activities that would enhance their financial performances. The results of this study imply that, they are financially strong and
they are growing at the rate of 17% per annum.

This report presents findings from mobile money consumer and agent experiences. The key insights are, customers and agents complain about network instability, transaction charges and fraud. Many customers understand the benefits of having a registered account but still want agents to help them transact. Fast and knowledgeable agents are the most sought after by customers. Most agents are exclusive to one service provider, and agents need further support from them to enhance branding, promote mobile money products and services and attract and retain customers. Most agents receive initial training from providers but no follow-up. Customers value privacy and safety while transacting on mobile money. Clean and organized agent locations also make them feel more comfortable.

The lack of primary financial education is responsible for people’s negative attitude towards investments and saving for the future. Therefore, the problem investigated in the study was the detrimental effect of the lack of financial education and financial literacy at primary level on the lives of people, on the economy and on consumers’ propensity to make provision for retirement. The purpose of this study was to investigate how financial literacy interface models contributed towards financial information comprehensibility for decision makers in South Africa. The study aimed at analysing the current levels of financial education amongst consumers in South Africa. The main data source for this study was data from a study done by the University of Cape Town, called the National Income Dynamics Study 2008. The study surveyed 26 000 respondents.
The study focused on income, education and financial literacy. The study concluded that financial literacy measures displayed both positive and significant effects with regard to access to financial literature in the country. The results indicated that financial literacy levels had a lasting impact on South African consumers’ access to financial literature or to a bank. From this research, it became evident that the degree of financial illiteracy amongst consumers had a definite negative impact on the financial state and the economy of the country.
When giving financial education to people, it is vital to use a method that would ensure effectiveness. The country should open itself to new ideas and technology after years of isolation. All stakeholders in South Africa should consider engaging in the financial inclusion issue, particularly those issues affecting the low-income population.

A serious problem confronting Zimbabwe is the savings gap, which essentially means that Zimbabwe as an economy cannot fund economic growth from domestic saving. There is a directly relationship between savings and income. Since savings largely depend on income, the low levels of income in the country translate into low levels of saving. Traditionally the access of the low income earners - who stay in rural areas as well as some high density residential areas - to modern financial institutions or even financial intermediaries is constrained by distance.This paper examines the importance of Mobile Money in promoting a culture of savings in Zimbabwe through Mobile Money related savings accounts

The study sought to assess the impacts that Village Savings and Loan Associations have on livelihoods of citizens in the north of Mzimba district of Malawi. A sample of 20 VSLAs were selected from a population of 200 in the district. From these 20VSLAs, 80 participants were selected as key informants for the research. The respondents were purposively selected because of their work in the VSLAs. Questionnaires, interviews, observations and focus group discussions were used as data collection instruments. Literature review and livelihood frameworks by DFID, Oxfam, UNDP and CARE were also used to understand how livelihoods strategies are implemented and their impacts.
All frameworks appear to be pointing towards the same thing which is poverty alleviation. All the components were discussed in the study which starts by the vulnerability concept, asset building structures and processes, livelihood structures and livelihood outcomes which take people out of poverty.  The study showed that VSLAs positively influence incomes through entrepreneurship. Secondly there is enhanced food security because of VSLAs and thirdly increases in assets (Physical, social, Human and Financial) helps to reduce vulnerability levels to poverty  A total of all the findings means that there is a positive impact VSLAs are making on livelihoods of citizens in Mzimba north. This means organisation should start introducing VSLAs as a tool for fighting poverty.
The study recommends that the school curriculum should include entrepreneurship and VSLA should also be trained in entrepreneurship to increase entrepreneurial knowledge. Organisations and government should train the groups in methods of storing and preparing food and also held them in acquiring assets what will enhance food production. VSLA should be introduced and strengthened in other parts to boost asset building process

The study specifically explored the sources of income and the application of cash in the senior high schools and how effective the practices have been. The study employed descriptive survey research design and it was a comparative study of private and public senior high schools. The study was undertaken in two schools-one private and one public. Data was collected from 4 respondents comprising of two (2) headmasters and two (2) bursars. Moreover, the study relied mostly on the schools' financial reports of the currents years for the analysis. The study established that sources of income available to public school which include school fees, Government grants, donations, PTA and HIPC funds are more than the funds available to private school which only comprise of school fees, donations and PTA. Insufficient cash, huge students debt, no support from government to private schools and little or not enough support for public schools and many other challenges are impeding the achievement of efficient and effective practices of financial management. The pattern of the schools' spending is aided by budgets for the schools however, due to some circumstances, the budget is sometimes neglected by bursars when spending. In order for the schools to practice efficient financial management, the government should come to the aid of the private schools in the form of grants. Moreover, due to the principle of time value of money, government should release monies on time to public schools so that they can escape price increment of commodities. Qualified personnel should also be employed to control the lapses experience in the schools' finances.

This article examines various conditions for optimality in financial inclusion. The optimal level of financial inclusion is achieved when basic financial services are provided to members of the population at a price that is affordable and that price is also economically sufficient to encourage providers of financial services to provide such financial services on a continual basis. Any level of financial inclusion that does not meet these conditions is sub-optimal. The consequences of sub-optimal levels of financial inclusion are reported and I show that maintaining a sub-optimal level of financial inclusion-which is common in many countries-is incentive-inefficient both for users and providers of basic financial services.

Some tools to measure the level of financial literacy are already done. However, until the present there is no tool to measure the level of financial literacy on financial service products from Islamic points of view. The absence of such measuring instruments causes difficulties to measure a person's level of shariate financial literacy. The purpose of this research is to propose a concept of Islamic financial literacy measurement tools from two perspectives, experts and practitioners. Expert’s opinion is used to obtain data onto knowledge. Meanwhile practitioner’s opinion is utilized to obtain data on the ability onto use.  The detailed analysis presented in this paper offers literature review and methodology to measure the Islamic financial literacy that industry and academic scope could use it as a guide to measure Islamic financial literacy.

Management, administration, and leadership have been defined differently by different scholars. Many scholars look at the three terms as being the same, yet others believe that the three concepts are different. This paper which is base on review of literature from articles attempts to determine the differences between management, administration and leadership. Even though management, administration, and leadership have been interchangeably used and thought to be similar; this study found out that the three concepts are completely poles apart. The findings revealed that management is concerned with maintaining efficiently and effectively the current organizational arrangements whereas leadership engrosses influencing people's actions towards achieving desirable ends. Yet on the other hand administration was found to be a process of working with and through others in order to accomplish organizational goals and objectives efficiently. In general, this study suggests that the three concepts of management, administration, and leadership engross unique roles. The researcher therefore recommends that Higher Education Institutions should create a contributive environment under which leaders, managers, and administrators execute their distinctive roles for institutional development.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between financial inclusion and
mobile money in Ghana. It sought to quantitatively test the wide-spread notion that mobile
money in most cases leads to financial inclusion. The study nonetheless approached this study
from a macro-level approach by considering other macroeconomic and industry-specific
variables such as inflation, deposit interest rate and mobile money respectively. Financial
inclusion was however measured by private credit to GDP.
The study used secondary data mainly sourced from the Bank of Ghana and the World Bank
spanning a 21-year period (1995 to 2015). By combining regression and correlation analysis, the
study determined how macroeconomic variables aside mobile money also affected financial
inclusion. An unpaired sample t-test statistic was also used to determine whether the increase in
financial inclusion before and after mobile money was significant.
Findings of the study from the correlation analysis showed that mobile money had a positive
relationship with financial inclusion with a value of 0.63. From the multiple regression analysis,
mobile money was also found to be a significant determinant of financial inclusion, evident by
its positive coefficient of 3.05 and p-value of 0.019. One of the suggestions for further studies
recommended was the need to identify the barriers to the use of mobile money as its contribution
to financial inclusion has been statistically significant in this short period of operation8888. A
major limitation however, was data unavailability for mobile money which hindered the use of a
rigorous time series approach, considering the fact that the service has been in operation in
Ghana for barely seven years.

The researcher presented the research for an academic award of Certificate in Digital Money a Digital Financial Inclusion training offered by Tufts University - The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

The research topic is Agency Banking, with focus to study the success of implementation of agency banking as a payment system in Uganda, with reference to Equity Bank as a case study.

Objectives of study
The study shall focus on the following objectives;
• To find out what agency banking is and the technologies it uses
• To find out the impact of agency banking to financial inclusion
• To find out the competition agency banking faces
• To establish the strengths and weaknesses of agency banking

Though SHG banking proved to be immensely beneficial to both the poor women and banks, the progress is slowing down and the inter-regional and inter-state variations are increasing in recent years.
In many states the SHG banking has not really taken off. In states where, the program shown dynamism, SHG – banking is slowing down with very few exceptions. AP is one such exception.
It is true that the quality of majority of SHGs in the country is far from satisfactory. In many states/ regions the quality of SHGs is declining over the years. It is also true that bankers’ apathy is one of the principal reasons for the decline of the quality of SHGs. Apart from bankers’ apathy, there are many other factors contributing for low and declining quality of SHGs and other SHG based institutions like federations.
Each of the case study included in this volume indicate that by tackling any small sub-set of above challenges, quality of SHG institutions could be improved and made them to serve, better, their members.

This discussion paper, published by Commonwealth Secretariat, presents a wide range of strategies and approaches that have been adopted by governments, international organizations, NGOs and the private sector financial institutions aimed at enhancing financial inclusion in general, but more specifically strengthening women's financial inclusion. The paper review recent findings from World Bank, African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank among others, and provides practical illustrations of effective and improved strategies and international good practices for women's financial inclusion.

Grounded on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) of Ajzen (1985& 2002) that explains individual decision-making processes, this study was conducted to primarily answer: How do teachers’ levels of job satisfaction and professional competencies significantly affect their financial literacy skills and practices? Respondents of the study, chosen through stratified random sampling, are the 103 nationally-funded teachers from the select five junior high schools covering the five districts of DepEd City of Malolos. The study ran from August 2019 to March 2020 employing a descriptive correlational type of research with a three-part questionnaire to capture the necessary variables adhering to the salient provisions of the Data Privacy Act of 2012. The data gathered were tallied and computed using the MS Excel and the statistical treatment was processed using SPSS Version 20. The study found out that: (1) teachers have high level of job satisfaction in the workplace; (2) teachers are consistently demonstrating professional competencies; (3) teachers have only moderate level of financial literacy skills and practices; (4) job satisfaction in the workplace has no significant impact on financial literacy skills and practices; (4) professional competencies have significant impact on financial literacy skills and practices; (5) there should be regular financial literacy programs based on their actual needs. The study recommends capacity-building programs that will enhance teachers to continuously improve themselves as financial managers of themselves and as active and responsible members of the organization.

Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on the lack of financial literacy as one probable factor explaining the low levels of portfolio diversification. The authors consider distinct aspects of financial literacy and control for socioeconomic and behavioral differences among individual groups of investors. Design/methodology/approach – The proposed models in this paper use multivariate analysis to examinetherelationshipbetweenfinancialliteracyandportfoliodiversification.Investors’ biaseshave been measured by means of a questionnaire comprising several items, including indicators of investors’ portfoliofragmentation,financialliteracyandsocioeconomicvariables.Thesampleconsists of 256 small investors actively trading on the Tunisian stock market. Findings – The results suggest that investors’ experience, financial literacy level, age, their use of the availability heuristic, familiarity bias and portfolio size, have a significant impact on the diversity of assets included their portfolios. Researchlimitations/implications – Themainlimitation oftheempiricalstudyisthesmallsizeof the sample. A larger sample would have given more reliable results and could have enabled a wider range of analyzes. Practicalimplications – Thepaperencouragesinvestorstomaketheirinvestmentsdecisionsbased on their financial capability and experience levels and to avoid relying on their sentiment. Social implications – The paper encourages governmental organizations to establish training programmes aimed to develop the individual investor’s financial literacy level. Originality/value – The current study is the first of its kind focusing on the link between financial literacy and portfolio diversification, within the specific context of Tunisia. Keywords Diversification, Tunisia, Familiarity, Financial literacy, Individual investor Paper type Research paper

Financial literacy occupies an important place in the economy. The more people become aware of this. Only then a developing country will be able to progress. When people are aware of financial literacy, then they will be able to invest their money well. Due to this, the money will flow. In this way when investments will increase. So a developing country will be able to make good progress. There are important issues in a developing country like India. The paper on the central government's Central Bank, SEBI, and IRDA how to increase financial literacy are trying. In this, we will know how these efforts are being made. Because this is an important issue and in a developing country like India, there must be talk and effort on this issue. As many people will be aware of this. The more that country and its people will progress. All these efforts will help it to become a developed country from a developing country. This paper is a mirror of all the efforts that have been made so far. This paper will also make investors and common people aware of financial literacy.

This study investigate the perception of students on the effect of application of e-learning to computer science department of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. A simple random sample was used to select the respondents from the students. In all 100 questionnaire were administered as the data collecting instrument. Data was analyzed using frequency and percentage. The findings of this study revealed that the majority of computer science students of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria have positive perception toward the use of e-learning method due to their familiarity with computer and internet. The findings also revealed the extent to which students prefer e-learning method over the use of lecture method in teaching and learning of computer science. On the findings it was recommended that the department of computer science should provide enough e-learning facilities such as power supply, laboratories and internet services and also the school should employ qualified lecturers in computer science. Also students were encouraged to effectively, actively, involved themselves in e-learning activities in the teaching and learning of computer science.

Increasing and/or lack of access to financial services has huge economic and social implications in Nigeria. The overall objective of this study is to reduce the prevalence of financial exclusion through adoption of technology-enabled e-banking channels. The aim is to guarantee greater access to financial access across the divide, hence the study sought to identify the various e-banking channels, and level of use of these channels. Analytically, the study adopted descriptive statistics and the results show a huge disequilibrium between available e-channels and use. The major channels identified are Debit card, video banking, e-payments, fund transfer, and mobile transfer. Debit card was identified as the most widely known and used of all the channels, besides e-payments which also shows a high level of use among respondents. Finally, poor infrastructure and telecommunication facilities and poor financial education were identified as major weaknesses in the adoption of e-banking channels and thus serves as hindrances to financial inclusion. The study highlighted that access alone cannot guarantee inclusion without commitment to addressing issues of constraints to availability and use with good policy framework. Given that financial exclusion persists due to illiteracy, the study therefore recommends multi-sectoral approach of integration among the government agencies, financial institutions, and telecommunication firms in terms of greater consumer awareness and literacy programme. Others are needed for infrastructure development especially in rural areas; improve security as an important policy and strategic branding tool to build confidence among consumer and a pathway to address exclusion.

This report is the first look at the key characteristics of the Digital Financial Services (DFS) market in Uganda. It highlights the following: Nearly half of adult Ugandans have previously used either mobile money or banking services; Among adult Ugandans, active mobile money account use is much more prevalent than active bank account use; Ugandans actively using financial services are more literate than their counterparts; the majority of active account holders first learned about mobile money through the radio and poor quality of service from the telecoms appears to be holding back the mobile money sector in Uganda.

This PhD Thesis explores the understanding of money in Indigenous Australia, and how this influences Indigenous participants' world-views on financial capability and well-being. The study creates a culturally-shaped sociology of  money, by comparing and contrasting the participants' views vis-a-vis literature on 'Anglo-Celtic' money in middle-income households, which underlies the banking system in Australia.

Taking data from Financial Access Survey, Global Findex and Reserve Bank of India bulletin, this paper tries to analyze the progress occurred and the future prospect of financial inclusion in India. Our analysis depicts that India has witnessed a quick progress in financial inclusion. Though there is long way to go to achieve the dream of universal financial inclusion, there is no doubt that tremendous progress has been achieved in the recent time. Specifically, after the implementation Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana in August 2014, much improvement has happened in opening of bank deposit accounts. Similarly, the post‐dimerization period has seen a rapid growth of digital finance in India. Despite high growth of digital transaction, digital payment among the women, rural people, elderly people, and less educated people is much less than other groups of people. The provision of good digital infrastructure to the remote area, opening of more financial literacy centers and extension of credit to the marginalized people can help to fulfill the true essence of financial inclusion in India.

Given the dynamic changes in the economic environment, especially in financial markets, a need is felt to improve investors' financial knowledge. Financial literacy entails informed financial decisions. The present study investigates the determinants of financial literacy and its impact on investment behavior. A questionnaire has been developed to elicit the study's variables and it is divided into three parts. The first part covers the demographic variables; the second deals with the financial behavior of the Tunisian households, and the third part is devoted to financial literacy. The study's findings are two fold: First, individuals with a low level of financial literacy are less likely to invest in the stock market. Second, the financial literacy level is found to be affected by age, education level, and the annual income.

Financial inclusion, a Shariah-compliant financial system, has been recently gaining acceptance by economists as it has been widely accepted that it is critical for poverty reduction and to build a healthy and vibrant economy. Risk-sharing and redistributive institutions are pillars of financial inclusion for poverty reduction. Poverty has been socioeconomic distress over the years. Allah has provided enough resources to satisfy human needs but as a result of poor income distribution and financial indiscipline, poverty is still a pervasive problem. Poverty remains epidemic in Nigeria despite the introduction of several anti-poverty programmes by successive governments and NGOs. This study examines the need of Islamic redistributive instruments for poverty reduction. Data for the study was primary data drawn from six Local Government Areas of Kano; Fagge, Garko, Kumbotso, Dawakin Tofa, Nassarawa and Tarauni Local Government Areas. The data was analysed using Chi-square through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 16).The findings of the study show that Islamic redistributive instruments serve as consistent means to reduce poverty of the socially and financially excluded populations who have been wallowing in poverty. Thus, the paper concludes that Islam offers its own social, political and economic approaches that, if applied, will contribute positively to poverty reduction and income inequality, and thus results in improved economic growth. The study therefore recommends that Kano state government should enhance the drive of the practice of financial inclusion using Islamic redistributive instruments to reduce poverty.

This study examined the impact of electronic banking instruments on monetary policy efficiency in Nigeria. The study utilized a panel cross sectional data covering the period 2016 to 2020. The study employed multiple regression analysis with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), Version 25. The results showed that there is a positive and statistically significant relationship between Point of sales service (POS), the Mobile service (MOB), Internet service (INTS) and monetary policy efficiency (MPE) in Nigeria. The study recommended that Monetary authorities should continue to strengthen e-banking instruments by creating the enabling environment for it to function optimally; Regulatory authorities should intensify the current security apparatus through electronic experiences and expertise so as to give a more secure feeling to electronic banking system.

The study highlights the need for measures to accelerate the pace of the business correspondent (BC) model for financial inclusion in India. The financial analysis of the existing BCs with the existing products and services in practice shows a very diffusive break-even (more than 7 years). The occurrence of such a long-term break-even point can be a potential threat to the sustainability of new and struggling entrepreneurs like a Customer Service Point (CSP). A CSP agent runs a kiosk of a certain bank in a rural context, functioning like a BC between the bank and the beneficiaries. The primary investigation found that high cost and low volume of transaction at the CSP points are two major causes of the long break-even. In this context, the study revisited the constructs related to cost structure, market outreach, market potential and commission structure for channellizing respective banking and non-banking products. The major categories of products include (a) banking operation, (b) loan and over-draft, and (c) social security schemes. In search of a solution, the study adopts a non-random stratified sampling technique with a semi-structured interview process to collect the data from different stakeholders in the BC operation. To develop an economically viable BC model, the researchers use a standard financial modelling technique. In contrast to the existing kiosk model of CSP operation, the study found that while applying the new model a CSP agent takes three years to break-even under the same condition as that of the existing model. The study can also be applied in the domain of bottom of the pyramid (BOP) marketing by treating to create value among the low-income customers and business partners like CSPs. This research can further be extended to investigate the viability of the BC model from the banks’ return on investment perspective.

District Chamba is one among the backward districts of Himachal Pradesh. The present
study covered whole of the area of Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh. It studied all the aspects of
financial inclusion in this particular district with population residing on hilly and tough terrines.
Largely, the study is based on the observation through direct interviews with stakeholders ranging
from district/tehsil/block level Govt. Officials, Bank officials, office bearers of Panchayati Raj
Institutions, Technical hands and the labourers i.e. beneficiaries working under MNREGS. Study was
based on primary data and it was collected through a well structured schedule of questions. Study
shows that to improve the financial inclusion position of the district, the banking system needs to be
improved more.

The concept of “financial inclusion” is commonly defined as people having easy access to a
wide range of formal banking services which are provided at an affordable cost. These
services include ownership of bank accounts, savings, availability of credit, remittance,
transfers and insurance. The concept of financial inclusion has attracted significant
attention in recent times. Various initiatives have been undertaken by Government of India
and Reserve Bank of India to promote financial inclusion at ground level. A declaration by
World Bank to achieve universal financial access by 2020 is another evidence of financial
inclusion being recognized at the global level. The purpose of this paper is to identify the
demographic factors which influence the extent of financial inclusion in Pondicherry region.
Results of this study indicate that frequency of usage, ease of using banking products and
physical accessibility of bank branch show significant impact on level of financial inclusion
in Pondicherry. It is also found that higher income, better education, gender and occupation
have a significant influence on frequency of usage, ease of using banking products and
physical accessibility of bank branch are highly associated with the level of financial
inclusion in Pondicherry region.

Moodie, N., Roost, F.D., and Dommers, E. (2014). My Moola: final report from the evaluation of an Indigenous financial literacy program, report prepared by the Brotherhood of St Laurence for the First Nations Foundation, Melbourne. ISBN 978-0-646-92984-2

In 2011, following the evaluated success of the My Moola Indigenous financial literacy program in Shepparton, the First Nations Foundation (FNF), with funding support from the Rio Tinto Aboriginal Fund, the (former) Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, and the (former) Department of Education, Employment, and Workplace Relations, embarked on an expansion phase. The aim was to further evaluate the benefits of the My Moola program for participants, and in particular, identify enhancements that would support a broader, national roll-out.

Women empowerment has taken a center stage in the present development agenda. The study examines the role of financial inclusion in supporting women empowerment in Lango sub region, Northern Uganda. Using both purposive and simple random sampling a Sample of 126 respondents was selected with a response rate of 100% realized. The study found out that financial support appeared to be sparse, The regulations, supervision and monitoring of some of these firms was lacking, causing many women to lose their savings with such firms. The study therefore recommended that Government should establish buffers to serve as collateral security for women who intend to secure financial credit. Financial service providers should lower down the costs of operating accounts for the financial inclusiveness of women, particularly women from rural areas. Government should tighten monitoring, regulating and supervisory policies of financial service providers to restore public trust in financial institutions in Uganda. Financial services providers, government and other development partners should offer both formal and informal business education training.

Article History Keywords Livestock Income generation Nepal Rural households. This paper investigates the livestock asset positions of rural households and the contribution of livestock to their income in Nepal. The research is conducted in household of the rural areas in plain (Terai) region. The primary data is collected on the om snow ball concept and secondary data to support the research. The findings of the research shows the different perspectives of the rearing the livestock in in different households regardless of the households economy. The majority of rural households keep livestock; the rural poor, defined as those living in rural areas and belonging to the bottom expenditure quintile, are more likely to keep livestock than those in higher quintiles. Rural poor household who keeps livestock for income generating purposes whereas a bit well-off as a consuming and income enhancing purposes. There are minor differences in herd composition between households economy. Small ruminant is common in the poor economy of the rural household whereas well off households goes for both on their choice of increasing the income as well consumption. Regardless of household economy, most of the households would like to rear the livestock for their emergency funding or additional income. Contribution/ Originality: This study contributes in existing literature by highlighting the role of the livestock in households" economy in rural areas of Nepal where formal financial services are less structured. The households" economy and their dependents on the rearing livestock will give an additional standpoint in literature.