Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog released NABARD All India Rural Financial Inclusion Survey report at a function held in New Delhi today. While appreciating NABARD’s initiatives in bringing out such a report, he said that the report will be handy for all policy formulations in the country.
The survey revealed that farm households register higher income than the families solely dependent on non-farm livelihood activities in rural areas. The survey, with reference year of 2015-16, was conducted among 1,87,518 people from 2016 villages in 245 districts and 29 states.
Apart from assessing the income levels of rural households, the survey mapped aspects like debt, saving, investment, insurance, pension and financial aptitude and behaviour of individuals.
Dr H K Bhanwala, Chairman NABARD, in his introductory remark, stated that the survey is a pioneering attempt to bring together aspects of financial inclusion and rural livelihoods. He also informed that NABARD proposes to carry out the survey every 3 years.
The function was also graced by Shri S K Pattanayak, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Dr Nachiket Mor, Prof. Vijay Sharma, Chairman, CACP, Shri H R Dave, DMD, NABARD and dignitaries from various walks of life.