DBS Foundation partners with The/Nudge Institute to boost financial inclusion in rural India
Partnership aligns with DBS Foundation’s focus on fostering inclusion for underserved communities
The DBS Foundation x The/Nudge Institute Economic Inclusion Programme seeks to empower 85,000 low-income households
This partnership will support The/Nudge Institute in enabling the economic inclusion of approximately 85,000 low-income households in Gujarat and Jharkhand, in line with its goal of supporting greater financial stability. It aligns with DBS Foundation’s commitment to uplifting the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable communities. Guided by its dual focus of providing essential needs and fostering inclusion, DBS Foundation equips the underserved with access to the likes of food, education, healthcare, as well as the skills needed to thrive.
The Economic Inclusion Programme empowers women from remote, disadvantaged rural communities to drive long-term well-being for their families. It focuses on those with annual incomes below SGD 400, no assets or savings, and limited access to loans. Using an evidence-based graduation approach, the programme adopts a structured intervention comprising consumption and livelihood grants, along with a 150-week skill-building initiative. It addresses key challenges faced by women and their households, such as irregular earnings, nutritional deficiencies, lack of access to formal credit, and exclusion rooted in gender norms.
Karen Ngui, Head, DBS Foundation and DBS Group Strategic Marketing and Communications, said, “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, The/Nudge Institute, added, “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 DBS Foundation x The/Nudge Institute Economic Inclusion Programme supports women through household-level livelihood planning, enabling them to pursue at least two steady income streams. Skill development will be provided in agriculture—such as vegetable cultivation and kitchen gardening—livestock-based activities including dairy farming, goat rearing, and poultry farming, and micro-enterprises such as tailoring, running provision stores, and traditional crafts like handwoven products, bamboo and cane work, and earthenware pottery. Beneficiaries will also gain access to formal services such as microfinance and government welfare schemes.
A key pillar of the initiative is financial and digital literacy—enabling participants to navigate banking systems, develop savings habits, access anti-scam education, and build familiarity with emerging digital tools. The programme focuses on helping households cope better with daily stressors, access nutrition, and strengthen self-esteem through community-led interventions. Over time, the programme aims for households to diversify income, increase earnings and savings, ensure access to at least two nutritious meals daily, and participate in social welfare schemes. It also promotes greater independence for women, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to their families and lead development initiatives in their communities.
This partnership with The/Nudge Institute is one of several impactful initiatives supported by DBS Foundation as it deepens its efforts to drive inclusive growth. In 2024 alone, DBS Foundation committed SGD 88 million to launch 15 new programmes across its key markets, helping vulnerable communities to progress towards a more secure and sustainable future. This is part of DBS’ broader commitment of up to SGD 1 billion over a decade to this purpose, starting 2024.
In India, DBS Foundation has also partnered with Haqdarshak Empowerment Solutions to improve access to social security for 500,000 individuals — empowering them with critical knowledge of welfare entitlements and building pathways to financial inclusion for over 50,000 nano-entrepreneurs.
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About DBS
DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The bank's "AA-" and "Aa1" credit ratings are among the highest in the world.
Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named “World’s Best Bank” by Global Finance, “World’s Best Bank” by Euromoney and “Global Bank of the Year” by The Banker. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named “World’s Best Digital Bank” by Euromoney and the world’s “Most Innovative in Digital Banking” by The Banker. In addition, DBS has been accorded the “Safest Bank in Asia“ award by Global Finance for 16 consecutive years from 2009 to 2024. In 2025, DBS Bank India was recognised by CRISIL - Coalition Greenwich as the Best Bank for Corporate Banking and Best Bank for Corporate Cash Management in India. Euromoney also named DBS Bank India the Best Digital Bank for SMEs in India in 2025.
DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region’s most dynamic markets.
DBS Bank has been present in India for more than 30 years, opening its first office in Mumbai in 1994. DBS Bank India Limited is the first among the large foreign banks in India to start operating as a wholly owned, locally incorporated subsidiary of a leading global bank. As a trusted partner, DBS provides a range of banking services for large, medium, and small enterprises and individual consumers in India, focusing on a seamless customer experience that helps them ‘Live more, Bank less’. In November 2020, Lakshmi Vilas Bank was merged with DBS Bank India Limited. DBS Bank India is now present in ~350 locations in 19 Indian states.
With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. For more information, please visit www.dbs.com.
About DBS Foundation
Established in 2014, DBS Foundation is committed to uplifting lives and livelihoods of those in need. It provides essential needs to the underprivileged, and fosters inclusion by equipping the underserved with financial and digital literacy skills. It also nurtures innovative social enterprises that create positive impact. It aims to bring hope to those with less today, so no one is left behind and we can all face the future with confidence.
In 2024, DBS committed up to SGD 1 billion dollars over the next decade to support vulnerable communities. It also pledged to contribute 1.5 million employee volunteer hours over the same period.
Together with an ecosystem of like-minded partners, DBS Foundation seeks to create impact that goes beyond banking, beyond borders, and beyond generations. For more information, please visit: www.dbs.com/dbsfoundation
About The/Nudge Institute
The/Nudge is an action institute building resilient livelihoods to alleviate poverty. We work with social entrepreneurs, women, farmers, tribals and youth on rural development, agriculture, skilling and economic inclusion, along with 15 central and state government partners. Set up with support from 100+ eminent philanthropists, 40+ corporates and 15+ foundations, The/Nudge is contributing towards a "poverty-free India, within our lifetime".
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