UP's BC Sakhi Scheme Drives ₹39,000 Crore In Rural Transactions, Empowers Women
The Uttar Pradesh government's BC Sakhi scheme, launched in May 2020 through the Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihoods Mission, is expanding rural financial inclusion while fostering financial independence among women. Operating on a 'one gram panchayat, one BC Sakhi' model, the initiative trains and certifies women from self-help groups as banking correspondents. Armed with digital devices and mandatory IIBF certification, they deliver doorstep banking services to villagers. Participants receive 4,000 rupees monthly for six months before earning through transaction commissions. According to the state's budget 2026-27 documents, 39,880 BC Sakhis facilitated transactions exceeding 39,000 crore rupees across 58,000 gram panchayats during 2025-26, earning around 107 crore rupees and curtailing the need for rural travel to distant bank branches.