Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has inaugurated its first branch in Mumbai. By 2017 there will be 500 offices spread across the country, even in villages. The objective is to encourage the emancipation and independence of women, who traditionally entrust their savings to the men of the house.

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - The first state bank of India entirely dedicated to women opened today. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the Mumbai branch of Bharatiya Mahila Bank ( MB), which will start with seven offices throughout the country. Each branch will have only female employees and give priority to a female clientele . By 2017, the BMB wants to open 500 locations throughout the country, even in villages.

Significantly, the bank has decided to inaugurate the branch today, the anniversary of the birth of Indira Gandhi, the first woman Prime Minister of India.

"We encourage men and women - said Usha Ananthasubramanian , president of the Bharatiya Mahila Bank - to open an account with us, but we want to focus on the world of women , especially with regard to loans." The goal is to promote and support the empowerment, autonomy and independence of women. In general , they are considered more parsimonious than men, but by tradition tend to entrust their savings to their husbands .

Compared to a global average of 50% , only 35 % of Indians have access to banking services. Of this percentage, women account holders are only 26 % , against the 46 % of men. Across the country there are about 100 thousand bank branches, and out of the 650 thousand villages most do not have a bank.

 

• india
• bank
• women
• savings
• independence
• emancipation