NEW DELHI: Lack of capacity to operate their accounts, no regular cash flow and unease in dealing with male banking agents are some of the main reasons why a whopping 42% of bank accounts owned by women were found to be dormant, according to a research report prepared for Niti Aayog has found.

The research report by MicroSave Consulting was released on Wednesday. Quoting the global Findex report of 2017, the consulting firm said that nearly 65% Indian women either don’t have a bank account or have not transacted any business for over a year after opening them.

The research through detailed interviews was carried out to find the exact reason why nearly 23% didn’t or couldn’t open accounts despite the government’s big push under the flagship Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and also why women were not using the accounts frequently.

The report has also highlighted how the share of women having accounts increased from barely 43% in 2014 to 77% in 2017 and the gender gap in financial inclusion reduced to only 14% within these four years.

It said in neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan , the share of women having bank accounts was just 36% and 7% respectively.

MSC group managing director Graham A N Wright said that there is need to understand the complex gender issues that often limit the use of these accounts. “The banks and their agents need to devise new approach such as selling a package or new idea such as regular saving for daughter’s marriage or education rather than selling the proposal for recurring deposits. Engaging more women agents will also have greater positive impact on women to open and operate accounts,” he told TOI.

