“For a nation to progress, financial literacy is equally as important as women empowerment” – Headmistress, DKSN Bidyapitha

By Tapaswini Sahoo

Badaberana, Odisha, Sep 20 : Bajaj Finance Ltd., India’s largest Non-BankingFinancial Company(NBFC) in the private sector, and part of Bajaj Finserv, today organized its Financial Literacy programme, titled ‘ArthsutraSamvad’ at BadaberanaRajiv Gandhi Bhawan, Badaberana, Odisha. The pan-India programme aims to further financial inclusion across villages and underbanked locations in India’s hinterland.

‘Arthsutra Samvad’, is being implemented under RBI’s initiative for augmenting financial literacy and awareness. It aims to create awareness about financial discipline, online frauds and good practices in money management.

DignitariesincludingShri Jyoti Prakash Panda, IIC, C PS;Smt. Sanjukta Satpathy, Headmistress, D.K.S.N Bidyapithaand ShriAsit Tripathy, Sarpanch, Badaberana Gram Panchayatand Shri Krushna Reddy, Bajaj Finance Ltdgraced the event. Around 200 students also attended the awareness programme.

Bajaj Finance’s ‘Arthsutra Samvad’ is a comprehensive programme to foster financial awareness and empowerment at the grassroots level across India’s hinterlands. At its core, the initiative aims to simplify personal finance for individuals, helping them make informed choices with confidence and clarity.

Addressing the students in the audience, Smt. Sanjukta Satpathy, Headmistress, D.K.S.N Bidyapitha emphasized that everyone should have basic knowledge of banking. She emphasised how financial literacy as well as women empowerment plays a vital role in nation building.  Everyone including the women generation is should know the proper use of new technologies and use of high-tech financial apps.

As part of the campaign’s multi-faceted approach, Arthsutra Samvad also places a strong emphasis n financial fraud awareness.

 Speaking on this, Inspector-in-Charge, Begunia Police Station Shri Jyoti Prakash Panda, IIC, Begunia PS stated that everyone should remember the helpline number 1930, and in case of any cyber fraud, they should immediately report it. If the complaint is made within one hour, the accused’s accounts can be promptly blocked, significantly increasing the chances of recovering the lost money. He referred to this critical window as the “golden hour” in cyber fraud cases, emphasizing the importance of swift reporting. He also stressed the need for careful and responsible use of mobile phones. Additionally, he advised students to protect themselves from cyber threats such as digital arrest scams, fraudulent investment groups on WhatsApp, installing suspicious APK files, or clicking on unidentified links received on their devices.

Shri Asit Tripathy, Sarpanch, Badaberana Gram Panchayaton this occasion said, “Financial literacy is not just about understanding money—it’s about building trust in your financial future. Whether it’s a small loan or a major business investment, timely repayment shapes your credit history and opens doors to greater opportunities in life.”He also expressed his gratitude for such awareness initiatives aimed at rural communities.

Through workshops, interactive sessions, and community dialogues, the Arthsutra program covers essential topics such as the importance of savings and how to build financial buffers for emergencies, understanding the nuances of responsible borrowing to avoid debt traps, and recognizing and avoiding common scams—including those that occur online or in person.

In addition, participants will be guided on cultivating financial discipline, and developing the resilience needed to navigate life’s monetary ups and downs. By merging practical knowledge with real-life scenarios, Arthsutra Samvad hopes to spark a long-term shift toward financially conscious behavior and a future-ready citizenry.

Following the event at Badaberana, on-ground awareness sessions will be carried out across villages in Odisha.

The programme will be further amplified through cultural events in Odisha and will include interactive workshops, expert talks, and community engagement activities, designed to simplify finance and encourage lifelong financial learning.

As part of the 100-year-old Bajaj Group, Bajaj Finance is committed to serving society. A Bajaj Finance spokesperson said, “We believe the business of financial services has a larger purpose – that of inclusion of the underserved and unbanked population into the nation’s financial mainstream. As part of our efforts to further financial inclusion, we are now launching a pan-India financial inclusion programme, aimed at bringing as many people as possible into India’s formal financial stream.”

For media queries, please contact:

Atridev Misra : atridev.misra@bajajfinserv.in