Financial literacy is an important skill to comprehend and manage finances. This skill continues to be a challenge in India, particularly among rural women. In a recent study conducted by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) it is found that only 27% of the Indian population is financially literate. In terms to that, the rural women are significantly underrepresented due to cultural and societal barriers that restrict their involvement in financial decision-making.
To bridge this gap, Vidhi Miglani, a Class 12 student from DPS Kaithal, Haryana, launched DhanSarthi. DhanSarthi is a digital platform which is dedicated to empowering rural women with financial literacy. Discussing her initiative, Miglani shared, “DhanSarthi has made a tangible impact at the grassroots level. To date, we have helped over 5,000 women across four states acquire financial knowledge and access banking services.”
The platform has organised 175 awareness drives, collaborated with banks, and assisted women in opening bank accounts. It has also helped them to enroll in government schemes such as ‘Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana,’ and form microfinance groups. Furthermore, DhanSarthi has implemented a peer-education model, establishing a network of 200 community leaders who actively promote financial literacy.
Miglani recognised the difficulties in overcoming cultural and social barriers, which initially discouraged women from attending the workshops. “Many women were reluctant to talk about finances. Another challenge was the language barrier, along with a lack of trust in the banking system due to past negative experiences with incomplete documentation for government schemes,” she explained.
Through building trust and providing practical solutions, DhanSarthi has effectively tackled these challenges. Miglani aims to expand the initiative across the country, expressing, “Educating a woman creates a ripple effect, as each empowered woman helps empower others.”
