Leveraging Digital Finance for Women Migrant Laborers in Kerala: Empowerment, Block chain and Financial Inclusion study of migrant women in Thiruvalla municipality

Abstract

Kerala represents a large segment of women migrant labourers which has significantly added to the labour force of the state over the recent years. Domestic work, agriculture, construction, hospitality are some of the prominent sectors where these women are mostly engaged in. Though the women minority play a crucial role, they frequently struggle with issues including financial exclusion, low financial literacy, exploitation susceptibility, and restricted access to safe financial services. Many of these problems may be resolved by the emergence of digital finance platforms, which offer transparent, safe, and easily available financial services. The purpose of this study is to investigate digital finance solutions and use of digital tools among women migrant community which if explored well, can improve financial inclusion, security, and empowerment of Keralan women migrant workers. Furthermore, it also enhances ease of managing finance in their daily life. With a sample size of 75 women migrants, this paper attempts to determine the degree of knowledge regarding digital finance tools and evaluate the effect on financial inclusion in person and across the web. It also investigates how block chain ensures security and transparency in financial transactions and provide recommendations for enhancing women migrant workers' access to enhanced use of digital finance.