Defeating Poverty : Jan Dhan and Beyond
Contents: Preface. Foreword. Introduction: From Swabhimaan to Jan Dhan. I: Setting the context for financial inclusion. 1. Financial viability of Jan Dhan. 2. Policy portions that kept Indians poor. 3. ModiNomics and poverty alleviation. II: A sectoral analysis of financial inclusion. 4. Why has banking for the poor been a non-starter? 5. Priority sector: priority no-more. 6. Microfinancing the poor. 7. Self-help groups: Exploring the linkages. 8. Micro-insurance: Too micro to be visible. 9. Micro-pensions: In need of expansion. 10. Co-operatives: Going through revival. III: Key drivers of financial inclusion. 11. MSMEs: An engine of inclusive growth. 12. Payments and settlements: In search of clarity. 13. Mobiles and connectivity: what comes first? 14. Financial literacy and financial education: wheels should roll. IV: Integrating Goals of social and financial inclusion. 15. UID: Identity that should be. 16. Targeting Gender: Move beyond biases. 17. Financial services for the disabled: time for inclusion. 18. Swachh Bharat, Swasth Bharat: Regenerating culture. Recommendations: Jan Dhan and beyond.
It examines why so many years after Independence, India still has a large number of poor and points towards vote-bank politics as a key culprit in choosing poor policy options that could never deliver optimally.
Poverty alleviation measures adopted by Narendra Modi during his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, were a greater success compared to other states. The book identifies the key success factors for financial inclusion a credit and livelihood based approach as well as a gendered view of inclusion; sustainable development; skill development; financial literacy; push for MSMEs; employment and focus on hygiene and health. Thus, making the Modi model, called ModiNomics, as one of the proven approaches that can take financial inclusion to its logical conclusion. The model comes close to the authors academic work, understanding of ModiNomics and years of research that has a great potential for its replication nationally. (jacket)
