Journal of Studies in Language, Culture and Society (JSLCS)

From Financial Inclusion To Social Protection: A Micro-level Study Of Rural Households In Purba Medinipur District Of West Bengal, India

Auteurs : Ahmed Dr. Nizamuddin .

Résumé

Rural development remains central to India’s inclusive growth agenda, yet the lived realities of households often reveal a complex mix of progress and persistent deprivation. This study provides an empirical analysis of the socio-economic and demographic profile of rural households in Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal, India. The study has been conducted across 825 households covering a population of 2,540 individuals in 33 villages across 11 blocks in Purba Medinipur district. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires administered during two phases between November 2024 and June 2025. Findings highlight significant achievements in welfare outreach. Financial inclusion has reached impressive levels, with 85.08% of individuals holding bank accounts, while health protection is nearly universal, with 95.24% of households possessing Swasthya Sathi cards. These figures reflect the visible success of state and central government initiatives in expanding access to basic services. At the same time, the study uncovers entrenched vulnerabilities that shape everyday life. Computer literacy remains critically low at just 12.52%, exposing a stark digital divide that limits opportunities for education, employment, and access to digital governance. Income insecurity persists, as nearly four-fifths of families earn less than ₹1.25 lakh annually and over half fall below the poverty line. Employment is overwhelmingly informal, dominated by small-scale businesses and cultivation, while formal sector opportunities remain scarce. MGNREGA coverage is limited, with only 16.57% of individuals holding job cards, suggesting gaps in awareness, accessibility, or implementation. Educational disparities and the persistence of early marriage, particularly among women, further compound structural inequalities. The findings thus reveal a development paradox: welfare schemes have expanded reach, yet deeper issues of poverty, gender inequity, and digital exclusion continue to undermine transformative change. The study calls for multidimensional interventions combining digital skill-building, poverty alleviation, and gender-sensitive strategies to ensure that welfare access translates into genuine empowerment and resilient rural futures.

Mots clés

Financial inclusion, Digital divide, Rural development, Socio-Economic profile, Welfare schemes