International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development

This research investigates the impact of education and skill enhancement on advancing financial inclusion for women who are members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in the Raipur district of Chhattisgarh. Despite various government efforts, numerous women in rural India still encounter obstacles in accessing and utilizing formal financial services effectively. SHGs have surfaced as a community-based approach for collective savings, credit access, and empowerment; however, challenges such as low educational attainment, insufficient skills, and limited financial literacy continue to exist. Employing a quantitative research methodology, data was gathered from 160 women in SHGs through structured surveys and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including Chi-Square tests. The results indicate a significant correlation between education levels and both mobile banking usage and access to financial products, underscoring education as a crucial facilitator of financial inclusion. In contrast, while skill development is significantly linked to access to financial products, it does not have a notable impact on digital financial behaviors such as mobile banking. The study further reveals deficiencies in confidence, financial awareness, and digital literacy, even with high rates of bank account ownership and an increasing trend in mobile banking usage. These findings underscore the pressing need for comprehensive, educationdriven initiatives that integrate financial literacy, skill development, and digital inclusion. Targeted policies can help close existing gaps, promoting inclusive and sustainable economic engagement for rural women through SHGs.