Role of Technology in Scaling up the BC Sakhi Network in Uttar Pradesh: A Lesson for Other States

Many rural adults in India lack access to basic financial services. To improve the access to financial services in Uttar Pradesh, the state government of Uttar Pradesh launched its "One Gram Panchayat – One BC Sakhi" initiative in 2020. BC Sakhis (women business correspondents) have emerged as a convenient last-mile interface of banks, especially for cash-in and cash-out transactions.

This case study charts how Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihoods Mission (UPSRLM) used technology to strengthen the BC Sakhi network in the state. It used technology to select, train, and operationalize BC Sakhis rapidly at the Gram Panchayat level to improve the status of financial inclusion among rural adults.