Women play a crucial role in economic growth and development in rural areas. However, studies have shown that women in rural areas often face significant financial constraints that limit their savings and investment options. This literature review aims to examine the saving and investment habits of women in rural areas of Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India, and identify factors that affect their financial decision-making.
In a study conducted by Goyal and Kumar (2019) in rural Rajasthan, India, it was found that women's participation in financial decision-making and access to financial services were positively associated with their savings and investment habits. The study emphasized the importance of financial literacy and empowerment of women in rural areas to improve their financial decision-making.
According to a study by Singh and Chakraborty (2018) in rural West Bengal, India, women in rural areas tend to save more than men, but their savings are often informal and kept outside the formal banking sector. The study also highlighted the need for financial education and access to formal banking services to encourage women to save and invest in formal financial institutions.
In a study conducted by Arora and Arora (2016) in rural Haryana, India, it was found that women's savings and investment decisions were influenced by their social and cultural backgrounds, access to financial services, and level of financial literacy. The study recommended the provision of financial education and the development of appropriate financial products to cater to the specific needs of rural women.
According to a study by Deshmukh and Naik (2019) in rural Maharashtra, India, the majority of women in rural areas save for emergencies, health expenses, and children's education. The study emphasized the need for financial literacy and access to financial services to encourage women to invest in long-term financial products such as mutual funds and insurance.
In a study conducted by Singh and Singh (2017) in rural Uttar Pradesh, India, it was found that women's savings and investment habits were influenced by their household income, education level, and access to financial services. The study recommended the provision of financial education and the development of appropriate financial products to encourage women's savings and investment habits in rural areas.
According to a study by Khanna and Kumar (2019), women in rural areas have limited access to formal financial institutions, which makes them rely on informal sources for their financial needs. The study found that women in rural areas save more than they invest and prefer to keep their savings in cash or gold. This is due to a lack of awareness about investment opportunities and limited access to financial literacy programs.
Another study by Varghese and Thomas (2018) found that women in rural areas face several challenges in investing their savings, including a lack of financial literacy, limited access to financial institutions, and social and cultural barriers. The study highlights the need for financial literacy programs that target rural women and promote their participation in formal financial systems.
Similarly, a study by Yadav et al. (2021) found that lack of awareness and financial literacy are the major factors that hinder rural women from investing their savings. The study recommends the implementation of financial literacy programs that cater to the specific needs of rural women and provide them with information about different investment options.
In contrast, a study by Chauhan et al. (2020) found that women in rural areas have a higher inclination towards investing their savings compared to men. The study attributes this to the fact that women in rural areas are more aware of the importance of financial security and have limited opportunities for earning income. However, the study also highlights the need for financial literacy programs that target rural women and provide them with information about investment opportunities and risks.
A study conducted by Sulekha and Mohapatra (2016) in the rural areas of Odisha, India, found that women were more likely to save money than men, and that their savings were mainly used for household expenses, children's education, and medical emergencies. The study also found that women lacked awareness about formal financial institutions and the benefits of savings and suggested that financial literacy programs be implemented to educate women on the importance of savings and investment.
Another study by Rathore and Singh (2015) in rural Rajasthan, India, revealed that women's participation in decision-making, their education level, and their access to financial services had a significant impact on their savings and investment habits. The study suggested that financial education and access to appropriate financial services could help promote women's savings and investment habits in rural areas.
A study by Narayanasamy et al. (2017) in Tamil Nadu, India, found that women's savings and investment habits were influenced by their socio-economic status, education level, and access to financial services. The study recommended the need for financial literacy programs to raise awareness among women about savings and investment opportunities.
Another study conducted by Jain and Jain (2016) in rural areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat, India, found that women's savings and investment habits were influenced by their age, education level, and employment status. The study also found that women tend to prioritize short-term goals, such as meeting daily household expenses, over long-term savings and investment goals. The authors suggest that financial education programs should be designed to address the specific needs and preferences of rural women.
Similarly, in a study conducted by Verma and Tiwari (2015) in rural areas of Madhya Pradesh, India, it was found that women's savings and investment habits were influenced by their household income, education level, and social networks. The study also found that women faced various barriers in accessing financial services, such as lack of awareness, distance to financial institutions, and lack of appropriate financial products. The authors recommend the development of financial literacy programs and the provision of accessible and appropriate financial services to promote women's savings and investment habits in rural areas.
Furthermore, a study by Srivastava et al. (2014) in rural areas of Uttar Pradesh, India, found that women's savings and investment habits were influenced by their age, education level, and household income. The study also revealed that women faced various challenges in managing their finances, such as lack of knowledge, limited access to financial services, and lack of control over financial decisions. The authors suggest that interventions aimed at promoting women's savings and investment habits should address these challenges through the provision of financial education, access to appropriate financial services, and empowerment of women to make financial decisions.
In a study conducted by Tyagi and Sharma (2021) in Bareilly, India, it was found that women in rural areas face many challenges in saving and investing due to lack of financial literacy and limited access to financial institutions. The study recommended the promotion of financial literacy among rural women and the development of financial products and services that cater to their needs.
Mishra and Bhandari (2018) conducted a study on women's financial inclusion in rural Uttar Pradesh, India and found that women in rural areas face various barriers in accessing financial services such as lack of awareness, low income, and social norms. The study suggested that financial institutions should provide customized financial products and services and increase their outreach to rural areas.
In a study conducted by Shukla and Verma (2020) on the saving and investment habits of rural women in Uttar Pradesh, India, it was found that women prefer to save and invest in traditional methods such as gold, livestock, and informal savings groups. The study recommended the promotion of formal financial institutions and the development of financial products that cater to the preferences and needs of rural women.
Another study by Kumari and Kumari (2021) in rural Uttar Pradesh, India, found that women face challenges in accessing financial services and lack of awareness about formal financial institutions. The study recommended the provision of financial education and the use of technology to increase financial inclusion among rural women.
The literature review showed that women in rural areas face significant financial constraints that limit their savings and investment options. Although there were some studies on the savings and investment habits of rural women in India, there was still a need for further research to understand the factors that influence their financial decision-making, and to develop appropriate financial literacy programs and financial products that cater to their specific needs and preferences. Additionally, the study could also investigate the potential impact of cultural and social factors on the financial behavior of rural women.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
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To find out the awareness among rural women about various investment avenue and analysis their investments pattern.
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To highlight the purpose of saving and factor influence investment decision of rural women.
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To analyze the investment pattern of rural women.
Hypothesis
H1- There is a significant awareness among rural women about various investment avenues and their investment patterns.
H2- The purpose of saving significantly influences the investment decisions of rural women.
H3–The investment patterns of rural women can be analyzed.
Research Methodology
The research design for this study was descriptive. The study universe was consisting of rural areas in the Bareilly District of Uttar Pradesh. The primary data collection method used was a structured questionnaire, while secondary data was collected from articles, reports, and websites. Convenience sampling, a non-probability sampling method, was used to select a sample size of 100 respondents. The questionnaire design was a combination of open-ended questions, close-ended questions with 2–5 options, and a Likert scale. The statistical tools and techniques used to analyze the data are the frequency and percentage by using MS Excel. The study duration was from 7th April 2023 to 25th April 2023, during which data collection and statistical analysis took place.