The Uttar Pradesh government’s ‘BC Sakhi’ scheme has emerged as a successful model for empowering rural women to become self-reliant and for extending banking services to villages.



Both the Central and State governments are running various schemes aimed at making women self-reliant. In this context, the Uttar Pradesh government’s ‘BC Sakhi’ scheme has emerged as a successful model for empowering rural women and delivering banking services to the villages. Through this state government initiative, thousands of women are not only providing banking facilities to people in villages but are also becoming economically strong themselves.

This is the reason why Uttar Pradesh has secured the top spot in the country in terms of economically empowering rural women and extending banking services to every village. In these rankings, Madhya Pradesh holds the second position, followed by Rajasthan in the third. So, let us now explain to you what the UP government’s ‘BC Sakhi’ scheme is and how women generate income through it.

What is the BC Sakhi Scheme?

The full name of ‘BC Sakhi’ is ‘Business Correspondent Sakhi.’ This scheme is being implemented under the Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihoods Mission. By joining this scheme, approximately 40,000 women are actively working in villages through Self-Help Groups (SHGs). These women provide banking services to villagers right in their own neighborhoods and, in return, earn a handsome income in the form of commissions. On average, a BC Sakhi’s monthly income ranges from ₹10,000 to ₹15,000. However, many women are earning even higher amounts—between ₹40,000 and ₹50,000—depending on the volume and nature of their work. Under this scheme, women undergo training before being deployed to work in the villages. These women are provided with Micro ATMs and digital devices, through which they deliver banking services to the villagers. Consequently, villagers no longer need to travel to distant bank branches to withdraw cash, deposit funds, make Aadhaar-based payments, or access other banking facilities.

A Robust Source of Income for Women

Under this scheme, women working as service providers earn an income in the form of commissions in exchange for delivering banking services. As a result, many women are generating a substantial monthly income. Furthermore, witnessing the success of the BC Sakhi program, several major banks have also joined this mission. While the initiative was initially supported by Bank of Baroda and State Bank of India, banks such as Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Union Bank of India, Indian Bank, and Canara Bank have now also partnered with the Uttar Pradesh Rural Livelihoods Mission to help drive this scheme forward. According to Janmejay Shukla, Joint Mission Director of the State Rural Livelihoods Mission, women across various districts—including Lucknow, Prayagraj, and Sultanpur—are setting inspiring examples of economic self-reliance through this scheme.