Author: Roshan Raybhanji Dongardive & Prof. Dr. Meena Anil Deshmukh
DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.70798/Bijmrd/04021001
Abstract: The growth of the trend of online payment systems has brought about a significant transformation in the financial sector, making Digital India a reality. This transformation has enabled the use of e-wallets for financial inclusion. This study evaluates the extent of these changes that have allowed small-scale women vendors to utilize the means of financial autonomy. Recent primary data was collected through a wellstructured questionnaire to examine the patterns of usage, the types of perceived benefits, and instances where these small vendors were protected from losses or faced difficulties. One of the findings was the tendency towards the establishment of several newly created ecosystems that promise rapid strides towards a better future, particularly in removing gender-based restrictions through e-wallets. Income stability, financial autonomy, and savings behavior and business decisions were observed through the implementation by women vendors. However, certain factors have hindered the spread of digital transaction functionalities among women, the biggest of which is illiteracy, followed by poor connectivity and insecurity. Nevertheless, the most relevant implication of this study is that policy interventions focused on women’s financial inclusion, literacy, and empowerment should be developed to promote their socio-economic and financial upliftment.
Keywords: E-Wallet, Women Vendors, Digital Payments, Economic Self-Reliance, Financial Inclusion, Bhandara District.
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