DBS Foundation has announced a partnership with The/Nudge Institute, committing SGD 9.98 million (₹65.56 crore) over four years to support economic inclusion for low-income households in rural India. The initiative, known as the DBS Foundation x The/Nudge Institute Economic Inclusion Programme, aims to benefit about 85,000 households in Gujarat and Jharkhand by providing alternative and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
The programme is designed to empower women from disadvantaged rural communities, particularly those with annual incomes below SGD 400, no assets or savings, and limited access to loans. It uses a structured intervention that includes consumption and livelihood grants alongside a 150-week skill-building initiative. This approach seeks to address challenges such as irregular earnings, nutritional deficiencies, lack of access to formal credit, and gender-based exclusion.
Karen Ngui, Head of DBS Foundation and DBS Group Strategic Marketing and Communications, stated: “At the DBS Foundation, we’re committed to uplifting vulnerable communities and helping them move towards brighter, more sustainable futures. Beyond meeting essential needs, this programme by The/Nudge Institute will also focus on closing critical gaps such as financial literacy, thereby empowering beneficiaries to build resilience and long-term stability. We’re proud to partner with The/Nudge Institute to drive inclusive and lasting growth.”
Atul Satija, CEO and Founder of The/Nudge Institute, said: “Through this partnership with the DBS Foundation, we aim to enable skilling and foster a culture of self-reliance. By empowering underserved communities, especially women in rural areas, the goal is to create a replicable economic mobility model. This programme is a step towards achieving a more inclusive society, where opportunity is accessible to all.”
The Economic Inclusion Programme supports women through household-level livelihood planning so they can pursue at least two steady income streams. Training will be provided in agriculture—including vegetable cultivation and kitchen gardening—livestock activities like dairy farming and poultry farming, as well as micro-enterprises such as tailoring or traditional crafts. Beneficiaries will also gain access to microfinance services and government welfare schemes.
A key component of the initiative is financial and digital literacy training that helps participants navigate banking systems safely and develop savings habits while learning about digital tools. The programme aims for households to diversify income sources, increase earnings and savings levels, secure daily nutrition needs, participate in social welfare schemes, and promote greater independence for women within their families.
This partnership is part of several initiatives supported by DBS Foundation as it increases efforts toward inclusive growth across its markets. In 2024 alone, DBS Foundation launched 15 new programmes with an investment of SGD 88 million targeting vulnerable communities across Asia. This aligns with DBS’s broader commitment of up to SGD 1 billion over ten years beginning in 2024.
In India specifically, DBS Foundation has also worked with Haqdarshak Empowerment Solutions on improving social security access for half a million individuals while supporting financial inclusion pathways for over 50,000 nano-entrepreneurs.
DBS Bank has operated in India since 1994 and now serves customers across approximately 350 locations in 19 states after merging Lakshmi Vilas Bank into its operations in November 2020 (https://www.dbs.com/india/default.page). The bank provides consumer banking services along with SME and corporate solutions tailored for local market needs.
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