Title of the Paper: A Qualitative Assessment of Financial Literacy among the Scheduled Caste Women

Abstract: Financial literacy activates common people’s involvement in economic life. Financial literacy will make financial inclusion initiatives worthwhile. Financial ignorance leads the vulnerable segments to financial hardship. The present study is intended to examine the status of financial literacy among one of the vulnerable and marginalized sections of the society such as Scheduled Caste women. Two FGDs were conducted in gathering information related to financial literacy. Low levels of income, income instability, low educational qualification, short sighted financial behaviour, cultural peculiarities and lack of financial awareness programmes are the major reasons for their low financial literacy. Socio-economic backwardness is found to be the major factor responsible for the low financial literacy among SC women.