Financial Inclusion in Upper Assam: A Case Study of Dhakuakhana Block

Unless various sectors within the economy interact in compounding manner, a high growth trajectory, thereof, development cannot be realised. Backed up by enormity of literature, strategy that standout is of financial inclusion to which banking sector is both prerequisite and integral. Although functional since a decade, the strategy accentuated post 2014, particularly, after the emergence of present dispensation at centre. Nonetheless, access differed across board with vast segments of population still unbanked. This ostensibly is true for upper Assam, especially, along north bank of mighty Brahmaputra. While attempt of inclusivity is undisputed, study concerning its trend and impact becomes pertinent. Hence we set up the twin objectives of indexing the IFI and to underpin its determinants. Our findings based on benchmark prism suggest a very low IFI. Further, few determinants are significant while others are not; but it did realized the requisite patterns qualifying our expectation. One specific determinant categorically indicated the significant impact of positive intervention by the ruling dispensation.