The networks of Bank Branches in India are very unevenly distributed, more so in rural areas. Hence, the rural population doesn’t have access to timely and quality financial services. The community faces many challenges in availing financial services through the mainstream banking system.
Bank Sakhis play a vital role in the financial inclusion of poor. Bank Sakhis are women community banking facilitators who facilitate various financial inclusion components like SB account opening, Bank Linkage to SHGs, Credit counseling, etc. The objective behind the Bank Sakhi concept is easing access to banking services to the WSHGs and members.
. A Bank Sakhi must be selected from the service area of the bank, who has been a member of an SHG.
She must possess the following qualifications/ characteristics:
• Minimum education of 8th/10th pass with basic reading, writing and numeracy skills;
• Understands basic banking procedures and familiar with opening of SHG bank account, credit
and debit transactions of SHGs and SHG credit linkage protocols;
• Possess communication skills;
• Able to undertake frequent travel to the bank branch and other villages;
• Skills of articulation and persuasion;
• Empathetic to the poor;
• Abletoworkhardandremaininthebankbranchonall/
mostworkingdaysduringthebusinesshours;
• Able to maintain good rapport and liaison with the bank staff ;
• Maintain good relations with SHGs,VOs and CBRM;
• Able to participate in SHG/ VO/ CBRM meetings and facilitate recovery of bank loans;