Role of Digital Financial Awareness on Economic Sustainability among SHG Women in Vulnerable Communities in Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the impact of digital financial literacy on economic sustainability among Self-Help Group (SHG) women living in destitute of hope pockets of Andhra Pradesh during 2024-25. A cross-sectional survey of 210 participants from three districts – Visakhapatnam (Coastal Andhra), Anantapur (Rayalaseema), and Kurnool (Central Region) – was administered through structured questionnaires.
The findings indicate that 58.6% of the respondents have moderate level of digital financial literacy with considerable differences based on educational level, possession of smartphone and exposure to educational programs. Education (β=0.342, p<0.001), having a smartphone (β=0.289, p<0.001) and attending digital literacy training (β=0.267, p<0.01) were found to be predictors of digital financial literacy based on the regression results. The research presents that digital financial literacy positively correlates with economic sustainability such as monthly income, accumulated savings, and entrepreneurship.
Findings highlight the urgent requirement for context-specific digital literacy programs for marginalized women to promote financial inclusion and sustainable livelihood results in the rural Andhra Pradesh.