Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, launched Phase II of the “Niveshak Didi” initiative on September 1, 2025, at Patelguda Panchayat in Hyderabad. Carried forward under the nationwide celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, this initiative embodies the spirit of empowerment through education — with a powerful motto: “Financial Literacy of Women, by Women.”
The event was graced by Ms. Anita Shah Akella, CEO of IEPFA, and Shri Krishna Kumar L, Region Head of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), Telangana Circle, underscoring the importance of collaboration between government bodies and grassroots institutions.
Why Niveshak Didi is a Game-Changer
In rural India, women are often the unsung financial managers of their families — budgeting daily expenses, managing savings, and even handling credit in self-help groups. Despite their critical roles, many lack access to formal financial education or exposure to secure financial tools. This makes them vulnerable to misinformation, frauds, and unproductive financial habits.
Niveshak Didi seeks to change this narrative.
By training local women as community-based financial educators, the program builds trust, relatability, and cultural relevance into financial education. These “Didis” act as peer mentors, conducting awareness camps and training sessions in regional languages like Telugu, ensuring the concepts are easy to grasp and implement in daily life.
What’s New in Phase II?
After the strong foundation laid in the first phase, Phase II of Niveshak Didi brings a more comprehensive, scalable, and engaging approach to financial literacy:
Expanded Outreach: The initiative now covers more villages, especially in underrepresented regions, ensuring that even the remotest communities are not left behind.
Interactive Training Modules: Workshops now include hands-on exercises, role-plays, and practical scenarios to make financial learning less theoretical and more life-oriented.
Partnerships with Local Groups: Collaborations with SHGs, NGOs, and IPPB help deepen the program’s reach and acceptance within communities.
Women-Centric Financial Focus: Topics such as safe investment practices, fraud prevention, digital payments, and banking literacy are tailored to the needs of women handling household and micro-enterprise finances.
Strengthening the Financial Backbone of Rural India
Speaking at the launch, Ms. Anita Shah Akella emphasized that financial knowledge is empowerment, particularly for women who often manage the bulk of household finances. She described the initiative as a “catalyst for confidence,” enabling women to safeguard their earnings, avoid scams, and contribute to India’s formal financial ecosystem.
Shri Krishna Kumar L reinforced the role of IPPB in last-mile delivery of financial education and services, highlighting the bank’s network in villages and panchayats as a key enabler for the initiative’s success.