This is with reference to “FinMin to study progress of financial inclusion, direct benefit transfer schemes”( Business Line , February 5).
While one should appreciate the Finance Minister’s efforts to ensure financial inclusion, and promote direct benefit transfer (DBT) as an effort to plug delivery leakages, a reality check is in order. Should ensuring prompt government payments be seen as the sine qua non for inclusive banking?
A recent survey on financial behaviour of poor households gives us an insight — bank accounts are opened to route (MGNREGS) payments only. Therefore, for the poor, cash in hand still forms a major part of their saving effort. Also, the World Bank’s Global Financial Inclusion index suggests that women savers preferred community-based approaches (along the lines of self-help groups) for inclusive financial service needs, rather than an individual account. Therefore, should not community-led models be a preferred mode of monetary savings for women from poor households?
Mumbai
Zoho’s success
This refers to “Decoding Zoho's success”. In a set-up where engineering graduates of any streams hardly work in their core area, as they either join an IT firm or a management college, Zoho comes as a breeze of fresh air. Kudos to Zoho for thinking out of the box and helping young students from not-so-well-off backgrounds find a meaningful job and career. Bal Govind
Noida
More censorship
A minority's might ensured 're- censorship' of Vishwaroopam . Now, another minority wants to censor Mani Ratnam's Kadal, as it finds certain parts of the film offensive. All concerned will, of course, yield to its pressure.
V. V. Vijayan
Mumbai