The promotion of an inclusive financial system is considered a policy priority in many countries. Financial inclusion is important for improving the living conditions of poor farmers, rural non-farm enterprises and other vulnerable groups. While the importance of financial inclusion is widely recognized, there is lack of assessment of the extent of financial inclusion based on credit flow to small borrowers in Indian economy. The liberalized, increasingly global, market driven economy of India today, has failed to facilitate inclusive growth. This paper attempts to fill this gap by evaluating the extent of financial inclusion and emphasises the active participation of cooperatives as important tools of financial inclusion in India.

The purpose of the paper is to explore link between the phenomenon of feminization of poverty and the social factors affecting it. The analysis used the existing data and the assertions have been made based on conceptual grounds. This paper highlights the gender dimension of poverty, which results in increasing proportions of the female poor in the country. Gender-based hardships and segregations are adding up to poverty-related vulnerabilities. The collaborative result of gender and indigence were ascertained by analysing women’s demographics, educational and employment conditions.