In a major push to deepen financial inclusion and improve market access for women-led enterprises, the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Posts to leverage India Post’s vast rural network for doorstep banking and logistics services.
Under the agreement, India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) and rural post offices will be positioned as last-mile service points for savings, insurance, pension products and direct benefit transfers. The partnership also enables India Post’s logistics network to transport products made by self-help groups (SHGs) and rural enterprises to domestic and international markets.
A key component of the initiative is the training and certification of women associated with the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) as Business Correspondents, known as BC Sakhis, of IPPB. Equipped with handheld devices and point-of-sale machines, these women will provide doorstep banking services, reducing reliance on distant bank branches in remote and underserved areas.
Officials said the move is expected to significantly expand the reach of post office savings schemes, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana accounts, insurance and pension products among SHG households, many of which remain outside the formal banking system despite being active beneficiaries of government welfare programmes.
The MoU also addresses logistics and market access challenges faced by women-run SHG enterprises. While DAY-NRLM will identify SHG and federation-level units with scale and growth potential and support them in packaging, documentation and export preparedness, India Post will provide logistics, warehousing and export facilitation through its Dak Niryat Kendras.
With over 1.5 lakh rural post offices and an extensive network of Dak Sevaks, India Post offers a ready-made delivery and distribution backbone. The government believes this can help connect rural producers directly with markets, reduce dependence on intermediaries and improve earnings for women entrepreneurs and MSMEs.
The agreement operationalises the Union Budget 2025 announcement on repositioning India Post as a key driver of rural economic transformation, expanding its role from traditional mail services to financial services delivery and rural commerce.
