A UN official commended India’s initiative that has provided banking services to over 290 million women, calling it a global model for empowering women and girls. The director of policy for UN Women highlighted the Indian government’s efforts in enabling digital identification for its female population, constituting one-fifth of women globally. She emphasized the significance of digital financial inclusion as a transformative pathway for women and girls, citing the success of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) in bringing banking services to women.
The PMJDY, now in its 12th year, has facilitated women holding 56 percent of the accounts opened under the program, thanks to the Aadhaar biometric-based identification system. The official underscored the legislative changes supporting women and girls in aspects like opening bank accounts and starting businesses, leading to tangible improvements in their lives. A report by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted the global discrepancies in legal rights between men and women, emphasizing the need for equal access to justice for women and girls.
