> Do they have bank accounts? > Between the extensions in my family, I've had two maids from Punjab (not the same pair all along) working in Bangalore for a few years now. My experience from this small sample set is that their parents, or an uncle, or a neighbour, has a bank account. Typically someone with a seemingly bonafide job, such as a security guard at a school, has a bank account.
> Problems faced by them in opening bank accounts esp on KYC front > Without a permanent address or a 'Sanaaksh' (something like that - I think it means 'identification') card, banks make it to open accounts. The bigger issue I think is the distance to a bank, or source of income. A new source of income in Punjab villages is textile industries, but this involves long hours of work from including travel from the village, 6 days a week, and many are barely able to keep up. If they have no steady source, the need for a personal bank account diminishes. > How do they send money home? > In our case, we would 'drop' a cheque at the local SBI bank branch in Bangalore, with a teller, with written instructions. And then wait close to 20days to confirm with the maids' contacts, AND our local bank branch, that the money has been transferred. > Do they have banks in their villages? > typically have a bigger village or district HQ where a bank exists. > Do they get any loans there? > I have never asked my maids but I doubt it. They depend on more informal, and possibly more dangerous, ways of getting loans > Do they need micro insurance? > Yes. I don't think they know insurance of any form exists. Their biggest concerns are when a family member needs an operation or such medical assistance. > Do they need any micro saving products? > Not sure I understand what a micro-saving product is, but teaching them how to manage and save their money is a challenge. Are you aware of this organisation http://www.alittleworld.com/ ? Off-list, I can connect you to one of the founders. It could be difficult to get a response from him, but I can't think of anyone else with more experience in this area. :: Vinay Rao
