CB BureauSo as to facilitate financial inclusion of artisans at the grassroots, most of whom are women, Vodafone India has partnered Jaipur Rugs, one of India’s largest rugs manufacturers, to facilitate payments to artisans via M-Pesa mobile wallets.
Jaipur Rugs is associated with about 40,000 home-based artisans, 80 per cent of whom are women who live in disadvantaged communities in over 600 villages and are without access to basic financial services. Through M-Pesa, Jaipur Rugs will be able to facilitate timely payments and enable them to encash their wages from their nearest M-Pesa agents. The system will eliminate the risk involved in physically carrying cash by Jaipur Rugs’ staff into the hinterland and will also save associated time and travel costs.
‘…from process automation to instant and secure transaction, we are confident M-Pesa will drive financial inclusion and empower the rural community,’ Amit Bedi, business head, Rajasthan Circle, Vodafone, said in a media release shared with CauseBecause.