Introduction
AISECT is one of India’s leading social enterprises that is working in the areas of skill development, financial inclusion, and higher education among other ICT-based services to bring about an inclusive change in the rural and semi-urban areas of the country. It was established in 1985 with Bhopal being the headquarters. It has been unfailingly reaching out to the remotest corners of the country for the past 33 years to empower individuals, generate employment for the youth, and unfold entrepreneurial initiatives.
Under the financial inclusion scheme or AISECT FI, AISECT works as an NBC (National Business Correspondent) for 2 regional rural banks and 3 nationalized banks. The AISECT banking Kiosks also offer a variety of services under government schemes such as the Atal Pension Yojana, Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Beema Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Beema Yojana and so on.
Comprehending AISECT FI Kiosk
- • A kiosk bank generally offers services that include opening new accounts, depositing and withdrawing cash, and transferring bank branches to regions among others. The ability to check account information is also feasible.
- • Kiosks are also found in urban areas as a part of ATMs. Urban kiosks are mechanical devices that are supervised by security personnel and allow self-operation in the form of self-service.
- • The underprivileged can get a no-frills bank account which is a bank account with zero balance. In addition to these, other advantages are only available to those with low income in remote regions.
Government Initiatives for Rural Empowerment
India has taken several steps in the aspect of monetary advancement. In 2014, the government of India launched PMJDY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana) which ended up being a memorable start to extend monetary consideration.
Through this particular drive, the government of India has made it reasonable and simple for the majority of the Indian population to get monetary administration. The reserve funds ledger is the beginning stage in the venture for monetary considerations. When this ledger is open, people can gain admittance to other monetary items like life coverage, credits, and clinical along with other benefits.
Another crucial step in this direction for monetary consideration is the JAM trinity (Jan Dhan, Adhaar, and Portable) which is nothing but connecting Adhaar and versatile numbers of Jan Dhan accounts. This has worked with a few direct advantages move (DBT)programs which furthermore aided with stopping government endowment’s foundational spillages.
These are the ideal monetary administrations that have strengthened and empowered the provincial financial movement. This process is responsible for bringing huge development across crucial rural sectors such as dairy, handlooms, horticulture, and others.
Challenges
There are various challenges to the concept of rural empowerment and fiscal inclusion among the rural populace. One of the major challenges to rural empowerment is that the rural population is unaware of the concept of community development. In addition to that, the divide between urban and rural areas and their socio-economic conditions acts as a barrier to the concept of rural development. The parochial attitude of the rural populace is yet another barrier to the developmental aspect. Lack of capacity and resources is another hurdle to the concept of rural empowerment.
Illiteracy and poor access to healthcare and education can also be attributed as a hindrance in the developmental aspect of the rural community. Moreover, fewer job opportunities lead to unemployment among the youths which makes it difficult to recruit talent and attract young people to the economic framework. Another major challenge can be considered the poor internet connections which leads to less digital penetration in this era of digitization.
The Future of Rural Empowerment
- • Community empowerment: The key to development is a community that is deeply involved in the creation of a roadmap for their village and the execution of it. For true empowerment, it is highly recommended to form a VDC (Village Developmental Committee) of motivated volunteers with equal representation of youth, women and men.
- • Holistic development: It is extremely recommended to take a geographical approach and construct a holistic 360-degree model. Everything is connected from healthcare to education and hence a holistic approach is necessary for rural empowerment.
- • Collaboration and Partnerships: A holistic approach cannot be achieved alone. It is extremely important to collaborate and forge the right partnerships. It is important to collaborate with the corporates for financial resources, with the government for support and guidance, and with fellow NGOs and other organizations for expertise.
Conclusion
In conclusion, AISECT’s extensive work in the field of higher education, skill development, and financial inclusion in semi-urban and rural areas of India showcases its unwavering commitment to empowering individuals, generating employment and fostering entrepreneurial initiatives. AISECT’s role as an NBC for nationalized and regional rural banks through its banking kiosks has played a pivotal role in providing fiscal services to underserved populations especially those in rural regions. To secure the future of rural empowerment it is essential to emphasize holistic development, collaborative partnerships, and community involvement. With these three pillars in place, rural India can look forward to a brighter as well as empowered future while addressing the requirements and aspirations of its vast population.
