India, Feb. 9 -- In India, more than 160 Mn credit-eligible individuals are overlooked by traditional credit systems, with rural women facing distinct and often invisible challenges in accessing credit. For millions of these women, especially in rural areas, securing a loan can feel nearly impossible. Though they may lack conventional indicators of credit worthiness, their untapped potential represents an opportunity for financial inclusion. Excluding them means sidelining a crucial force for growth and resilience.

Barriers for women are all too familiar: rigid lending models, lack of asset ownership, absence of formal credit histories, and irregular incomes. These challenges highlight a financial system built without their needs in mind...