Financial Inclusion in Assam:Evidences from District/Village Level Data

The present study was conducted in Assam with the aim to measure financial inclusion at district/village level by examining both; service providers and user side indicators. The study was carried out by constructing three composite financial inclusion indices separately for interstate, inter-district and inter-village analysis. Findings show a lot of variation across states/districts and between rural and urban regions. Still within a state, differences are evident between rural and urban areas for the different indicators considered. From village- level analysis. A dominant role of semiformal organisations with the declining role of informal lenders was found. The paper emphasises the need to expand semiformal institutions in rural areas of Assam.