Indicating the rising financial distress among households, SBI Research in its latest report has said that disposable income growth of households fell to 0.8 times in fiscal 2019-20 as compared to an average growth of 2.3 times in the preceding six fiscals. It said during the same period, the net household financial savings jumped Rs 3.4 lakh crore in 2019-20, largely reflecting a significant meltdown in growth of their liabilities to 22 percent. It noted that the liabilities had increased 39 percent in the six-year period ending 2019.
The report also warned that households' disposal income growth is likely enter a negative zone this fiscal on the back of slowing leverage in 2020-21. But, it said that this may not result in a decline in net household financial savings in 2020-21 as people have accumulated currency, deposits and even shares in large numbers.
As a wayout, it suggests government incentivise households to save more, by increasing Section 80C/PPF limits, among other measures. It also said that an increase in public provident fund (PPF) limit by even Rs 50,000 for individual households will lead to additional savings of over Rs 1 lakh crore compared to the revenue foregone of Rs 10,000 crore. It further said even if the extra interest burden of around Rs 8,500 crore (8.5 percent on Rs 1 lakh crore) is added up, total revenue foregone is only Rs 20,000 crore as compared to Rs 1 lakh crore jump in savings.
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