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Technology, Training, and Trust: A Study of Digital Financial Inclusion among Self-Help Group Members in Darjeeling District

 


Technology, Training, and Trust: A Study of Digital Financial Inclusion among Self-Help Group Members in Darjeeling District


Samphel Bhutia,

Ph.D. Research Scholar,

Dept. of Commerce,

Raiganj University,

West Bengal, India.


Abstract
: Economic growth in today’s financial landscape depends on the efficient financial system. Financial literacy particularly the digital financial literacy is very crucial in the system of financial stability. The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) initiative for people to access financial services are initiated through encouraging digital banking started few years back, especially after the COVID-19. Long-term Financial Inclusion can be achieved through an integrated approach that include stable regulatory environment, technology upgradation, and providing valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to enhance the empowerment of rural women within the digital financial sector. However, there are still some issues where many people are worried about safety, and ignorance of technical use of digital services. It is evident from various sources that Digital financial literacy is especially crucial for marginalised groups, like Self-Help Groups (SHGs) that are part of the formal banking framework. This study focuses on SHG women in Darjeeling district; West Bengal where tribal people mostly concentrate. Apart from descriptive statistics, regression analysis has been made to know their awareness level on Digital financial Literacy. This study finds that SHGs need to get more knowledge on digital transaction and to know the safety features of the digital transactions.

Keywords: digital financial inclusion, SHG, digital upgradation, UPI, mobile banking.

10.  Introduction

Financial Inclusion is an initiative which is specifically designed to curate then needs of every individual and business, despite their source of income, have access to and fully benefit from swiftly, accountable, and cost-effective financial goods and services that have been crafted to suit their specific needs. There is a substantial segment of the population who are away from accessing basic banking services for a variety of reasons, being lying-in low-income group, rural areas and many more. In this scenario financial inclusion seems to be a crucial facilitator of socio-economic growth, integrating underprivileged populations into the mainstream economy.

Digital Financial Inclusion means utilizing and benefiting from contemporary technologies. Experts attribute digital financial literacy to the ability of conducting financial transactions using digital technology (Yadav and Banerji, 2024).

Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) are very important for getting poor women in rural areas and people with low incomes access to banking services (Hasan et al., 2021). They cater to an array of services that can boost household financial stability as well as promote entrepreneurship, including micro lending, micro savings, and micro insurance. In India, MFIs operate through different modes as follows (Chattopadhyay, 2019):

·         Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC-MFI)

·         Joint Liability Groups

·         Rural Co-operatives

·         The Grameen Bank Model

·         Self Help Groups

The financial system has forged a powerful alleviation, enhanced household stability and creating vibrant livelihood opportunities, especially for the inclusion of women. This impact not only empowers families but also paves the way for a more equitable and prosperous future.  By offering credit in rural and remote areas, these microfinance channels contribute to promote financial inclusion. There is an increasing emphasis on digitalization, the government has consistently promoted the use of digital channels for financial transactions. To introduce rural residents to digital financial services, the government has also launched initiatives like the Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity, Digital India, and financial literacy programs (Goel, 2020). In a same vein, MFIs have gradually begun implementing digital systems for tracking, repayment, and loan disbursement.

In Darjeeling district, it is unclear that how many rural women use digital platforms for microfinance transactions. It’s not clear if digital platforms are the best way to do microfinance, even though rural women may own mobile phones and know how to use them to make payments. The study is expected to be able to discover obstacles and problems that could limit their utilization.

2. Literature Review

Literature review has been conducted to explore similar research work from both the national and international perspective in order to develop conceptual framework and suitable methodology for this study.

2.1. Literature from International Perspective

A number of previous studies have examined the function of digital microfinance in improving the affordability and accessibility of financial services for the marginalized. Celestin and Vanitha (2016) sought to determine whether digital microfinance improve marginalized people’s access to financial services and cost effectiveness. According to their mixed-methods evaluation, mobile microfinance helps close gaps in traditional financial services by increasing account ownership and reducing poverty, they support increased initiatives to improve digital financial literacy.

The research interest in the transformation of microfinance services through digital innovation has grown. Through a qualitative study that included in-depth interviews with ten important informants, Moin and Kraiwanit (2023) investigated digital developments in microfinance. According to their research, digital technology can help the microfinance industry in a number of ways, such as lowering operating costs, enabling quicker and more effective transactions, and enhancing underbanked people’s and rural communities’ access to financial services. For further research, they suggested using larger sample numbers and quantitative research methods utilizing questionnaires.

Asimiyu et al. (2024) looked at how electronic payment systems affected MFI financial performance metrics based on Return on Equity and Return on Assets from banks’ annual reports. According to their findings, electronic payment systems have a favourable and significant influence on financial performance; nevertheless, adoption is constrained by low smartphone penetration rates, low technological literacy, and a lack of awareness and trust about the use of digital financial services.

2.2. Literature from Indian Perspective

The academic research on women’s financial inclusion is broad but fragmented. The systematic review on women’s financial inclusion divided studies into two categories: firm-side and household-side. Firm-side research often uses ‘credit’ as a measure of financial inclusion. The household-side studies look at a broader range of financial services, but there is no defined assessment for financial inclusion. These studies primarily examine the impact of gender and demographics on financial inclusion rates Roy and Patro (2022). The efficacy of SHG connections to raise rural women’s financial literacy was investigated by Patel and Das (2021). They specifically looked at how SHGs are likely to open bank accounts, obtain credit from financial institutions, make timely repayments, and overcome obstacles.

In their study, Singh and Sharma (2023) describe how SHGs are an important tool for improving and promoting financial inclusion formalization and financial literacy, which opens up more opportunities for economic stability. According to Radha Thangarajan (2024), increasing the number of members increases financial stability and raises awareness of rural SHGs and their financial situation. They are the powerful instrument that fosters financial inclusion, bringing marginalized society back into the mainstream. A significant portion of microfinance research focuses on evaluating the impact of different aspects of women’s empowerment (Al-Shami et al., 2016; Datta & Sahu, 2020; Khan et al., 2023; Mahato & Jha, 2024; Mukendi & Manda, 2022; Murshid, 2018; Samant et al., 2019; Samineni& Ramesh, 2023). Access, usage, and autonomy are the key parameters for financial inclusion. Existing literature has also highlighted the lack of decision-making autonomy among women. According to Kabeer (2005), women’s autonomy varies depending on the decision-making domain. According to Ghosh and Bhandari (2014), women are not in charge of making decisions about how to use loans. Compared to male loan holders, female loan holders usually participate in more “joint decision-making” and less “sole decision-making.”

2.3. Research Gap

While the importance of adoption is recognized, there has been limited research on the behavioural, social, and infrastructural barriers preventing rural women from utilizing digital financial services. To better understand how the Digital Financial Literacy (DFL) level impacts rural women’s actual use of digital microfinance services, a more focused study is needed. Based on the reviews mentioned earlier and an analysis of the valuable insights from “The Role of SHGs in Women’s Participation in Their Financial Inclusion Journey,” several research gaps have been identified. Specifically, there is a lack of research on digital technologies that could enhance financial inclusion for members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs). This study aims to address this gap by evaluating the effectiveness of SHGs in the rural Darjeeling area of West Bengal, with a focus on women’s participation in digital financial inclusion.

3. Objective of the Study

The evaluation aims to bridge the gap between access, awareness, and adoption of digital microfinance. Additionally, it seeks to identify the causes and contributing factors behind any poor usage. For this purpose, this study adopts following objectives:

·         To assess the levels of Digital Financial Inclusion among rural women in Darjeeling.

·         To identify the major barriers that restricts women from adopting digital finance.

·         To evaluate the relationship between DFL and the usage of digital micro finance platforms.

4. Research Hypotheses

Following hypothesis has been framed for statistical analysis:

H: There is no significant relationship between Digital Financial Literacy (DFL) and the usage of digital platforms for microfinance transactions.

H: There is a significant relationship between DFL and the usage of digital platforms for microfinance transactions.

5. Research Methodology

5.1. Research Design

The relationship between DFL levels and the use of digital microfinance services is examined in this study using a quantitative approach. The participants of the study were women living in rural areas of Darjeeling district of West Bengal.

5.2. Data and Sampling

In this study, primary data has been used for evaluating the digital financial literacy levels and analysing the impact of digital financial literacy on the usage of digital financial platforms. Primary data has been collected using structured questionnaire from the Darjeeling area. Out of total 80 responses collected, only 50 valid responses have considered for further analysis in this study.

5.3. Analytical Techniques

5.3.1. Variables Considered

For developing the statistical models and for analysing the primary data statistically, following variables and proxies have been considered:

Table 1: Variables

Type of Variables

Variables

Components

Independent Variables

Digital Financial Literacy Score

·         Knowledge and Awareness of Technology

·         Use of UPI

·         UPI Training

·         Use of Strong Passwords

·         Transaction Limit

·         Use of Mobile Banking Applications

·         Online Transactions

Dependent Variables

Digital Financial Platform Usage Score

·         Withdrawals Using Cards

·         Frequency of Using Digital Financial Platforms

Source: Compiled by the Researchers

5.3.2. Statistical Tools and Models

Descriptive statistics have been used for evaluating the level of awareness and digital financial literacy among SHG women in Darjeeling. Further regression model combined with sustainable diagnostic tests have been used for analysing the impact of digital financial literacy on the usage of digital financial platforms. For this purpose, following regression model has been developed:

Where,

            Y = Digital Financial Platform Usage Score

            β0 = Constan term

            X1 = Digital Financial Literacy Score

            ε = Error Term

6. Data Analysis and Discussion

6.1. Evaluation of Digital Financial Inclusion Among SGH Women Darjeeling

It can be clearly seen from Table 2 that the knowledge regarding mobile banking has a mean value of 1.02 which in extremely and positively skewed. The standard deviation is 0.14 which shows a very low level of variation where the data points are tightly clustered around the mean. The calculated mean regarding the Phone Number linked with Banks to avail Internet Banking (Table 2) is 1.76 which is negatively skewed. The standard deviation is 0.43 which shows a moderate level of variation. The mean regarding who uses mobile banking application more frequently and the standard deviation are 0.30 and 0.40 respectively as shown in Table 2. Therefore, the standard deviation shows a moderate level of variation. The mean number of Online Transactions Performed Using the Mobile Applications is 1.72 which indicates that the SHG women rarely make transaction using online platforms. The standard deviation is 0.50 showing a high level of deviation (Table 2).

The mean concerning the Use of UPI Payment Applications is 1.32 which is positively skewed. The standard deviation here is 0.47 which shows a very moderate level of variation as shown in Table 2.Training received relating to UPI Transactions show a mean of 1.98 which is extremely negatively skewed and the standard deviation is 0.14 showing a very low level of variation (Table 2). The use of Strong and Secure passwords for UPI Applications shows a mean of 1.52 which is almost in the middle range and the standard deviation of 0.50 indication a high level of variance as shown in Table 2. The transaction limit for UPI Applications shows a mean of 1.76 which is identical to the mean of the phone linked with banks to avail internet banking and the standard deviation is 0.43 which is consistent and a moderate variation (Table2).

Table 2: Descriptive Statistics of Digital Financial Literacy

 

N

Range

Minimum

Maximum

Mean

Std. Deviation

Knowledge Regarding Mobile Banking

50

1.00

1.00

2.00

1.0200

.14142

Phone Number linked with Banks to avail Internet Banking

50

1.00

1.00

2.00

1.7600

.43142

Who uses mobile banking application more Frequently

50

1.00

.00

1.00

.3000

.40406

Ever Performed Online transaction through Mobile Applications

50

2.00

1.00

3.00

1.7200

.49652

Use of UPI Payment Applications

50

1.00

1.00

2.00

1.3200

.47121

Training Received relating to UPI Transactions

50

1.00

1.00

2.00

1.9800

.14142

Use of Strong and Secure Passwords for UPI Applications

50

1.00

1.00

2.00

1.5200

.50467

Transaction Limit for UPI Applications

50

1.00

1.00

2.00

1.7600

.43142

Source: Analysed by the Researchers

6.2. Identification of Major Barriers

The mean of can visit banks alone can banks alone is 1.32 which shows that the majority of women are self-reliant in terms of having access and travelling to the banks. This demonstrates that there is a positive level of basic movement and operational freedom within the financial system (Table 3). As we can see further in Table 3, the mean regarding the need for assistance with filling up various forms for various purposes is 1.48. This score indicates a significant reliance on others so as to complete the necessary paperwork required in banks. This points towards a gap in the level of functional literacy and the confidence with regard to deal with official financial procedures.The mean of the authority in the final decision making and the usage of savings, loans and card for each account is 0.55 (Table 3). This clearly shows that only 55% of the women have a final say regarding the final financial decisions which indicates that there is a clear distinction between having a bank account in the formal institution and having control over the finances. The mean concerning the financial benefit of participating in SHG is 1.04. This strong and positive mean that the majority of women benefit directly from the participation in SHG (Table 3). The mean concerned with the awareness regarding investment concepts and risks associated with it is 1.52 (Table 3) which indicates that there is a considerable gap relating to more advanced concepts of financial management such as investment and the risks associated with such investment.

Table 3: Descriptive Statistics Identifying Major Barriers

 

Can Visit Banks Alone if have access to Account

Need Assistance with filling up various forms for various purposes

Authority in final decision making and usage of savings, loans and card for each account

Did participation in SHG benefit you Financially

Awareness Regarding Investment Concepts and Risks associated with it

N

50

50

50

50

50

Mean

1.32

1.48

0.552

1.04

1.52

Std. Deviation

0.47121

0.50467

0.1821

0.28284

0.50467

Variance

0.222

0.255

0.033

0.08

0.255

Source: Analysed by the Researcher

6.3. Analysing the Impact of Digital Financial Literacy on Digital Financial Platform Usage

6.3.1. Diagnostic Tests

Table 4: Model Summary

Model

R

R Square

Adjusted R Square

Std. Error of the Estimate

1

.591a

.350

.336

.11424

The R squared (coefficient of determination) is 0.350. This indicates that the digital financial literacy score explains 35% of the variance in the digital financial platform usage score (Table4).

    Source: Analysed by the Researchers

The regression model is statistically significant, F= 25.809, *p* < .001.This means that the model is a significantly better fit for the data than a model with no predictors (Table 5).

Table 5: ANOVA

Model

Sum of Squares

df

Mean Square

F

Sig.

1

Regression

.337

1

.337

25.809

.000b

Residual

.626

48

.013

 

 

Total

.963

49

 

 

 

 Source: Analysed by the Researchers

6.3.2. Regression Results

The constant term (0.398) represents the predicted value of the digital platform usage score when the digital financial literacy score is zero. This is the intercept of the regression line. The digital financial literacy score (B = 0.466) is the unstandardized regression coefficient. For every one-unit increase in the DFL Score, the digital platform usage score increases by 0.466 units. This coefficient is found to be statistically significant, t = 5.080, *p* < .001.Beta (β = 0.591) is the standardized coefficient. This is identical to the correlation coefficient from the previous analysis and confirms a moderate-to-strong positive effect of DFL on usage (Table 6).

Table 6: Coefficients Table

Model

Unstandardized Coefficients

Standardized Coefficients

t

Sig.

B

Std. Error

Beta

1

(Constant)

.398

.128

 

3.103

.003

DFL SCORE

.466

.092

.591

5.080

.000

Source: Analysed by the Researchers

6.4. Key Findings

·         Near-Universal Basic Financial Inclusion: The study found exceptionally high levels of traditional financial inclusion.
An overwhelming majority of the women have and use basic formal financial services:
(a) 100% have a formal savings account
(b) 94% have a bank account and actively deposit money into it
(c) 98% have availed insurance schemes and own a debit/credit card
This indicates that policies aimed at bringing women into the formal banking fold have been highly successful at a basic level.

·         Digital Financial Literacy is a Strong Predictor of Usage: A strong, positive relationship exists between a woman’s Digital Financial Literacy (DFL) score and her actual usage of digital microfinance platforms. Higher literacy levels are directly associated with higher usage.

·         The Digital Access-Usage Gap: The most significant finding of this study is the clear disparity between access to and usage of digital tools. While 98% of the women own a debit card, a key instrument for digital finance where only 76% have used it in the past year. This 22 percentage-point gap is a direct indicator that possession of a tool does not guarantee its use.

·         Awareness vs. Action: While knowledge of mobile banking is nearly universal (98%), personal, autonomous use of mobile banking apps is extremely low, with a mean score indicating that women use the apps themselves only 30% of the time.

·         Severe Training Shortfall: A staggering 98% of respondents reported receiving no formal training on using UPI applications. This is the single biggest barrier to digital adoption.

·         Unsafe Digital Practices: Digital security is a major concern, with only about 52% of women using strong passwords for their payment apps, exposing a large portion to potential fraud.

·         Moderate Digital Adoption: About 68% use UPI payment apps, and 76% have their phones linked to their bank accounts. However, these numbers are lower than the near-total card ownership, showing a drop-off at each step towards full digital integration.

·         Digital Financial Literacy is a Strong Predictor of Usage: A strong, positive relationship exists between a woman’s Digital Financial Literacy (DFL) score and her actual usage of digital microfinance platforms. Higher literacy levels are directly associated with higher usage.

7. Conclusion

The aim of this study is to investigate the degree of digital financial inclusion among rural women in the Darjeeling district’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The findings underscore an important paradox: while traditional financial inclusion has become universal, with nearly all women gaining access to basic banking instruments, there is still a significant digital barrier. Digital Financial Literacy (DFL) is a strong, statistically significant predictor of digital platform utilization, based on the regression analysis. This demonstrates that having access to technology and bank accounts alone is not enough; true adoption is driven by the literacy and self-assurance needed to use them. The primary challenges discovered consists of serious lack of training, risky digital actions, and an apparent gap between awareness and independent use which show that the path from financial access to financial empowerment is yet to be complete. Hence, it is found that there is a significant positive relationship between Digital Financial Literacy and the Digital Financial Platform Usage Score. Additionally, the severe absence of training, limited autonomy in making decisions, and the obvious disparity between access and confident usage,highlights how challenging and inadequate the journey is from the financial access to financial empowerment for women.Interventions must be conducted to address the social and cultural variables that limit women’s financial autonomy alongside the digital literacy so as too truly empower women.Therefore, the next important step toward true financial inclusion for Darjeeling’s women as well as similar rural groups is to fill this digital literacy gap.

8. Policy Implications

The findings of the research suggest a number of practical policy recommendations:

·         Targeted Digital Literacy Missions: Besides basic account opening (Jan Dhan), policymakers and banks should start specific “Digital Sahyog” or “Digital Sakhi” initiatives. These workshops should be hands-on, conducted in local languages, and customized to rural women, addressing UPI transactions, app navigation, and digital safety.

·         Integrate Training with SHG Organizations: SHGs are a successful means that currently exists. Utilizing peer-to-peer learning to increase confidence, financial institutions and non-governmental organizations should collaborate with SHG federations to build digital literacy in their regular meetings.

·         Implement and Reduce Security Practices: For customers who have inadequate digital literacy, banks and payment app developers need to develop more simple and intuitive security features. Campaigns promoting financial literacy additionally need to put a major emphasis on the significance of setting up safe login credentials and detecting fraud

9. Limitations of the Study

Despite this study provides insightful information, its findings should be viewed with awareness of certain limitations:

·         Small Sample Size: 50 women from the Darjeeling district constitute the study’s sample. The findings are unable to be used with a larger population given the small sample size.

·         Regional Specificity: Darjeeling possesses a unique sociocultural and geographic environment. The barriers that exist in the plains along with the other Indian states could differ in size or nature.

·         Self-Reported Data: The usage and literacy data was collected through a survey, which is susceptible to biases like memory error and social preference bias (respondents providing responses that they believe are socially acceptable).

·         Cross-Sectional Design: This study suggests a relationship between Digital Financial Literacy and Digital Financial Platform Usage, but it cannot conclusively prove causation since it is a snapshot in time.

·         Limited Study of Intra-Household Dynamics: While the study highlights a lack of autonomy, it fails to dive into many of the details regarding the underlying structures of authority, cultural norms, or familial constraints that contribute to it.

10. Further Scope of Study

This research presents up an array of possibilities to pursue further research:

·         Longitudinal Studies: Monitoring the same SHG women over time following the introduction of a digital literacy program would yield strong evidence of long-term behavioural changes and causal influence.

·         Expanded Geographical Research: Comparative examination of barriers and the establishment of a sophisticated, region-specific policy framework would be made feasible via conducting comparable research in other states and regions (such as coastal regions, deserts, and northeastern states).

·         Qualitative Deep-Dives: Utilising qualitative focus groups and in-depth interviews could reveal fundamental social, cultural, and psychological obstacles that

·         Impact of Autonomy on Financial Outcomes: Exploring the intermediary role of financial autonomy is a promising direction for future research. Research could specifically look into a conceptual model which holds that increased financial autonomy is an outcome of Digital Financial Literacy (DFL), demonstrating that, this constitutes the primary mechanism that enables advanced financial outcomes like investment and the strategic use of financial resources for entrepreneurship.

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