Understanding the determinants of financial and digital inclusion vulnerability among rural women in Odisha

Purpose This study aims to examine the degree of financial and digital inclusion vulnerability among rural women in Odisha and the factors contributing to financial and digital inclusion vulnerability. Design/methodology/approach To achieve this objective, the study gathers 400 samples from two districts in Odisha: Jagatsinghpur and Jharsuguda. Applying the Standardized Composite Index method, the study constructs two distinct indexes: the Financial Inclusion Vulnerability Index (FIVI) and the Digital Inclusion Vulnerability Index (DIVI) among the rural women of Odisha. The study further uses a multinomial logit regression model to examine how various social, economic and demographic factors influence rural women's vulnerability to financial and digital inclusion. Findings The findings specify that the financial inclusion vulnerability index for rural women is significantly lower than the digital financial vulnerability index. The regression results reveal that factors such as younger women, Scheduled Castes women, having primary education and larger family sizes increase the likelihood of financial inclusion vulnerability. Likewise, concerning DIVI, factors such as older women, women from Scheduled Castes, marital status, primary level of education and larger family sizes heighten the likelihood of digital inclusion vulnerability. Originality/value It investigates the extent of vulnerability related to both financial and digital inclusion among these women and examines the factors influencing this vulnerability in rural Odisha.