FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE AND INCLUSIVE GROWTH: A STUDY ON THE FINANCIAL AWARENESS AMONG COASTAL WOMEN

Abstract

Inclusive growth through social and financial inclusion has become a priority of all the countries round the globe. Social inclusion via welfare measures and policy frameworks is being accompanied by the new strategies of financial inclusion adopted by the Central government and the Central bank from time to time. But still there persist the question of penetration of the basic financial services to all the sections especially the excluded sections of the society.This paper tries to assess the level of financial knowledge among the women population in the coastal areas of Kerala based on 3 parameters- knowledge on the interest rates on various loans, information on inflation rates and involvement in financial literacy campaigns.Kerala stands top in the financial inclusion map of India with 11 districts enjoying top 50 financially inclusive districts. Participation of women in financial activities can bring many changes in the economic framework of the state and it is proven by initiatives like Kudumbasree and self-help groups which emancipated the status of women and made them financially stable. Recently, financial knowledge is also accepted as an important means to strengthen the financial position of women. So, the effectiveness of enhancing further upliftment requires the current position of women in terms of financial knowledge. A sample of 190 is taken from the coastal areas of Kerala. The study revealed that status of women in financial knowledge is very backward and the initiatives like financial literacy campaigns are not reaching them to gain better results.