Sharp rise in bank accounts operated by women

NEW DELHI: The number of bank accounts that women not only hold but also operate themselves has increased dramatically over the past five years, data from the 5th National Family Health Survey (2019-20) shows.

In 10 states and union territories, 80-90% of women account holders run their accounts themselves.

Even in Nagaland, which is at the bottom of the 22 states and Union territories covered by the NFHS, 63.7% of women account holders operate their own accounts. The change since NFHS-4 in 2015-16 is significant.


In Bihar, for instance, the number of women operating their bank accounts rose from 26.4% to 76.7%. In Karnataka, from 59.4% to 88.7%. In Assam, from 45.4% to 78.5%, and in Gujarat from 48.6% to 70%.

When it comes to property ownership, the results are a mixed bag with the percentage of women property owners rising sharply in Karnataka between NFHS-4 and NFHS-5, but also falling in Assam and Bihar.

However, women now make up a significant number of mobile phone users. The share of women phone users ranges from 91.2% in Goa, down to just under 50% in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. In Sikkim, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Nagaland, Mizoram, Ladakh and A&N Islands, 80-89% of the women surveyed are mobile users.

Property ownership data in the latest NFHS reflects a wide variation across states and UTs. In terms of women owning a house or land alone or jointly, Ladakh is at the top of the list with 72.2% women, followed by Karnataka (67.6%), Telangana

(66.6%) and Meghalaya (65%). In Manipur, J&K, Dadra, Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Bihar and Sikkim, 53-58.4% of women own property. The share of women property owners dwindles to less than a third in 9 states and UTs.

The survey covers women aged 15-49 years across 17 states and five UTs and provides estimates on 131 key indicators.