HT Correspondent
ITANAGAR, April 3: The Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ArSRLM) has successfully conducted the first-ever Business Correspondent (BC) Sakhi training program in the state, marking a significant step toward strengthening financial inclusion in rural areas.
The six-day residential training, held at the Rural Self Employment Training Institute (RSETI) in Yupia from March 7 to 13, 2025, aimed to prepare participants for the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance (IIBF) certification.
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The initiative was part of the “One GP, One BC” mandate, which seeks to ensure financial services are accessible at the grassroots level.
A total of 16 BC Sakhis, including both new and existing members, took part in the training program designed to enhance their capacity to deliver banking and financial services in remote areas.
The training began with an inaugural session led by RSETI Yupia Director, Balaban Deori, who emphasised the importance of the IIBF certification in transforming the role of BC Sakhis.
He encouraged participants to take full advantage of the training, highlighting its potential to boost their effectiveness in serving rural communities.
ArSRLM’s State Mission Manager for Financial Inclusion, Hillang Tasap, also addressed the trainees, stressing the critical role IIBF-certified BC Sakhis would play in driving digital financial inclusion and improving rural livelihoods.
Throughout the program, participants received guidance on various aspects of digital finance and banking.
Sessions covered key topics such as the responsibilities of BC Sakhis, digital transactions, Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS), e-KYC, Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), and Unified Payment Interface (UPI). Training modules also included an overview of different types of loans, cybersecurity awareness, and strategies to tackle challenges in financial service delivery.
Assistant Financial Inclusion Managers, Mudang Vicky and Nokkha Boham, provided motivational sessions, encouraging BC Sakhis to stay committed to their roles despite challenges.
The program concluded with a two-hour examination, with all participants successfully passing and earning their IIBF certification.
The success of the training underscores the growing importance of BC Sakhis in bridging the financial gap in rural Arunachal Pradesh and ensuring last-mile banking services reach those who need them the most.
