Posted by Mumbai: Indian rural fintech Spice Money has launched a dedicated assistance initiative for COVID-19 vaccination registration. The fintech has added the CoWIN registration module to its Spice Money app and website. This initiative will enable rural citizens to register through Spice Money’s wide network covering 18,000 plus PIN codes across India.
The fintech has also initiated a special drive to spread awareness and educate its banking correspondent partners (Spice Money Adhikaris). It is making these partners aware and educating about the priority vaccination available to them, which the Department of Financial Service and Ministry of Finance have directed.
The fintech’s business correspondent network covers 95% of India’s rural PIN codes and it will facilitate people to register and book a vaccination appointment. And at the same time, they will dispel vaccine-related myths that may exist among smaller communities and groups.
According to Spice Money CEO Sanjeev Kumar, the banking correspondents have played a critical role since the beginning of the pandemic to provide essential financial and banking services to India’s masses.
“The Spice Money Adhikaris form the backbone of India’s financial inclusion efforts and it is our duty to ensure their safety at each step. We are offering our assistance in the process to avail the COVID-19 jabs as part of DFS’ initiative to vaccinate BFSI employees on priority,” said Kumar.
“We are also mobilizing our SMAs to help rural communities in their areas with self-registration for the vaccines. Through this initiative, we want to play our part to support the vaccination drive in rural India,” added Kumar.
Lack of digital literacy is impacting online self-registration COVID-19 vaccination drive in rural India and rural population remains unaware of such initiatives.
Spice Money with its digitally and financially empowered Adhikaris aims to overcome this challenge by making the process smooth and inclusive. COVID-19 vaccine registration is made available on the Spice Money app and portal.
The fintech agents operated by Digital Dukaans will now act as registration help centres for their communities. They will offer end to end assisted registration services to their customers and ensure the rural citizens get vaccinated.
Currently, to facilitate the vaccination of the agents on priority, the fintech has created a digital folder. All necessary documents they need to carry to the vaccination centre, including their Spice Money ID card, government ID proof, DSF letter and a copy of their self-registration slip, among others. Rural citizens can also call on 1800 572 1572 to find out available Spice Money Adhikaris near to them.