- Door-to-door banking and public service center services are being provided in three gram panchayats, with payments totaling over Rs 4 crore.
- Services ranging from Mahtari Vandan, pension, scholarship to Ayushman and farmer registration are available in the village itself.
Bank Sakhis are playing a vital role in expanding access to banking and digital services in rural areas. Lalita Baghel, a resident of Dongriguda in the Tokapal development block of Bastar district, is one such inspiring Bank Sakhi. She has not only increased the convenience of people by bringing banking services to their doorsteps, but has also done remarkable work towards financial inclusion and women’s empowerment.
Serving as a Bank Sakhi since 2019, Lalita Baghel has been providing disbursements under various government schemes to villagers in Dongriguda, Kalepal, and Burungpal Gram Panchayats. Her easy availability has relieved remote villagers from traveling long distances for banking purposes, thus saving them unnecessary time and expense.
- Payment of more than four crore rupees, direct benefit to thousands of villagers
Lalita Baghel is providing villagers with pensions, Mahtari Vandan Yojana assistance, scholarships, and honorarium payments for Mitanins, Anganwadi workers, and assistants. Since 2019, she has disbursed more than four crore rupees to villagers in the area. This local banking facility has proven particularly useful for villagers in remote forest areas. The hassle of traveling to the bank has been reduced as elderly, women, and needy beneficiaries receive their funds within their own villages.
- Along with banking, services of Public Service Center are also available.
Lalita’s role isn’t limited to banking services. She also provides villagers with various digital and government services related to the Public Service Center. These include services such as Ayushman Card, PAN Card, Labor Card, bank account opening, Kisan Samman Nidhi registration, and AgriStack registration. The availability of these services locally is relieving villagers and farmers from the hassle of visiting distant offices and banks. Lalita is also playing an important role in raising awareness about digital services.
- ‘Bank Didi’ became a popular figure among the villagers
Lalita Baghel, a graduate, has, through her dedication and persistent efforts, brought banking and public service center services to a large population in three gram panchayats. Her easy accessibility and helpful demeanor among villagers has earned her the affectionate nickname “Bank Didi.” Lalita says that helping villagers brings her immense satisfaction. The affection and trust she receives from them inspires her to further her work.
- Along with self-employment, she is also providing financial support to the family.
In addition to providing services to villagers as a Bank Sakhi, Lalita has also become a source of financial support for her family. She also financially supports her father, Mr. Somaru Baghel, in his farming. Her story demonstrates how the expansion of digital and financial services has opened up new employment and self-reliance opportunities for rural women. Lalita is not only financially empowered herself but also contributing to the financial and digital empowerment of those in her village and surrounding areas.