Financial Inclusion Among Scheduled Tribe Population in Rural Areas of Tripura: A Primary Survey

The present study investigates the degree of financial inclusion (FI) among tribal communities, specifically focusing on the rural tribal populations of the South Tripura district. More specifically, the study examines the level of access to and usage of formal financial services, including banking, credit and insurance, among scheduled tribes (ST) households. An appointed field investigator has collected primary data from 408 households belonging to the tribal community in the South District of Tripura through a structured interview schedule. We used the methodology suggested by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to compute the composite financial inclusion index (CFII) to assess the degree of FI among the ST population in the study area. The results indicate that most respondents demonstrate moderate to high levels of FI, with only a small percentage classified as having low FI. The study also confirms that FI varies based on education, income source type and income groups. Government and policymakers should enhance effective FI programmes, particularly in digital banking, mobile money services and microfinance. Improving digital infrastructure and reducing transaction costs can further increase accessibility for these communities.