Aligning with the Government’s Lakhpati Didi agenda, PayNearby’s Digital Naari initiative has set a target to empower 1 million women in rural and semi-urban areas across India over the next three years. The Digital Naari initiative of PayNearby, India’s leading branchless banking and digital network, is designed to provide additional income generation opportunities to women, thereby creating long-term self-employment. The larger goal of the program is to reach over 100 million households by FY28 across Bharat, enabling access to financial, digital, and social services through this women-led network.
Recognizing the role of women as equal contributors in the nation’s growth, the Digital Naari initiative helps women business owners, single women, and women with literacy challenges to have sustainable livelihood opportunities while enhancing their financial well-being and fostering self-reliance.
Since the program’s launch, over 1.5 lakh women have been empowered across 10,000+ PIN codes. These women have facilitated banking services worth ₹10,000 crore annually, significantly expanding access to essential financial tools like savings, credit, and insurance in their communities. Over 60% of these women are first-time entrepreneurs and earning an average of ₹3,500 to ₹5,000 per month. They offer a comprehensive suite of offerings, including banking (ATM, account opening, deposits, withdrawals), insurance, credit, mutual funds, healthcare (telemedicine, e-clinics), hygiene products, and government advisory services.
Jayatri Dasgupta, PayNearby’s CMO and Program Director of Digital Naari, said, “This initiative is built to bridge critical service gaps in underserved communities while unlocking livelihood opportunities for women at the last mile. The program closely aligns with the government’s objectives for promoting inclusive growth and empowering women economically. We are committed to building a women-led entrepreneurial ecosystem that is scalable, sustainable, and impactful.”
To drive the growth via this program, PayNearby has partnered with government agencies, NGOs, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), microfinance institutions, and State Rural Livelihood Missions. The company has partnered with organisations like the Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission (UPSRLM), Rajasthan Grameen Aajeevika Vikas Parishad (Rajeevika), and Grameen Foundation India—leveraging their networks to identify, train, and support Digital Naaris. The company aims to expand this network to maximize the reach of its program.
Most recently, the company partnered with M-Swasth as part of the Digital Naari initiative to deliver affordable primary healthcare through 3,800+ e-clinics, extending critical health services to remote communities.
- Source – PayNearby
- Published Date – July 18, 2025
