UP's BC Sakhi scheme bridges rural banking gaps while creating women's livelihoods

The Uttar Pradesh government's BC Sakhi programme aims to bring banking services to rural households while creating livelihood opportunities for women. Launched in May 2020 under the Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission, the scheme follows the “One Gram Panchayat, One BC Sakhi” model, training women, particularly Self-Help Group members, to work as certified banking correspondents. They facilitate digital transactions and provide doorstep banking services, reducing the need for villagers to travel to nearby towns. The programme provides 4,000 per month for the first six months to help BC Sakhis establish their banking operations. According to the state government's 2026-27 Budget, 39,880 BC Sakhis facilitated transactions worth over Rs 39,000 crore in 2025-26, earning approximately Rs 107 crore in profit, highlighting the programme's reach and livelihood potential.