RBI's three year plan of financial inclusion has been supported as well as adopted by three states of India so far. RBI sources now acknowledge the inclusion of another member in the list by the name of Tamil Nadu. The financial inclusion drive is a measure taken by RBI to spread banking awareness in rural and unbanked parts of India.

The states which have already joined the drive are Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. These states have started working on the scheme by spreading awareness about banks either by setting up a branch or through information or communication technology across all villages having a population of over 2,000.

RBI regional director K R Ananda said that Tamil Nadu's consciousness over the implementation of this scheme arose when it observed that poor people and daily wage workers were unable to withdraw money from banks at the time of need due to far off locations of these banks.

"We are trying to address their concerns by suggesting an ICT-based model where banking could be done at their doorstep," he said.

Through financial inclusion RBI and the supporting states are attempting to provide banking services at affordable cost and means to weaker sections of the society. These sections either do not have access to banking facilities or do not have any financial or banking literacy. RBI believes that once the rural people become financial literate many mal practices related to banking and money matters like currency frauds can be curbed.

"We have set a timeframe of 2011 by which about any habitat having over 2,000 populations should have banking facilities," said executive director of RBI Deepak Mohanty.

More than six lakh villages will come under this scheme," he added.

"Efforts have begun in eight villages in each State and the RBI has asked banks to come out with a strategy in this regard," Mohanty added.