Women’s World Banking’s first industry report in India highlights the design of its unique ‘Jan Dhan Plus’ solution, and learnings from a subsequent pilot study that helped nurture regular savings behavior among low-income women in the country. To understand women’s savings behaviors, Women’s World Banking worked with Bank of Baroda, an institution holding 14% of all Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts in India with approximately 31.8 million women Jan Dhan accounts (as of July 2021).
Impact / Outcome
Jan Dhan Plus was piloted with 101 Bank of Baroda branches across Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai and over 300 Business Correspondent points between February 2020 to August 2020. During this period, nearly 50,000 men and women customers signed up for Jan Dhan Plus. 32% of women who visited the Business Correspondent points enrolled in the scheme within the first two months of the launch. Women who were on boarded by the Business Correspondent and had access to the solution started to save with the Bank. These savings-engaged women sustained their behavior and grew balances at a higher rate than the overall portfolio average.
Funding sources
Public
Key Metrics
Provide all women in India with sustainable access to finance through the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) government schemes
Operating model
Fully publicYear published
18 August 2021 
Women's World Banking NGOs and other non-profit