When Village Homes Became Classrooms for Financial Wisdom

Financial Literacy Camp | 29 September 2025 | Gadhi, Ladera, Ikona, Dhaba Gaon

In rural India, financial decisions are rarely individual choices—they are collective family responsibilities shaped by uncertainty in agriculture, healthcare needs, children’s education, and old-age security. Recognizing this reality, ISCI Foundation organized a Financial Literacy Camp on 29 September 2025 across four villages—Gadhi, Ladera, Ikona, and Dhaba Gaon—where conversations around money were rooted in daily life, not banking jargon.For CSR partner banks and donors, this camp represents a shift from awareness delivery to behavioral change, where financial inclusion becomes sustainable because it is understood, owned, and practiced by families.

The Village Gathering: Where Every Generation Had a Voice

The camp brought together 80 villagers across age and gender groups—19 from Gadhi, 17 from Ladera, 22 from Ikona, and 22 from Dhaba Gaon. Elderly farmers spoke about lifelong struggles without formal savings, youth raised questions about future security, and women participated with confidence, reflecting their evolving role as household financial decision-makers.This inclusive participation is critical to sustainability. When financial literacy becomes a shared family dialogue, its impact multiplies across generations, ensuring long-term engagement with formal banking systems.

From Grain Storage to Monthly Savings: Making RD a Rural Reality

One of the most meaningful discussions centered on Recurring Deposit (RD) accounts. Many villagers believed saving was only possible after meeting all expenses—or when income increased. Through simple, relatable examples, the ISCI Foundation team reframed saving as a habit, not a surplus.Villagers instantly connected RD savings to a familiar rural practice: storing a small portion of grain after each harvest for future needs. This analogy transformed RD from a “bank product” into a trustworthy rural savings tool, reinforcing disciplined, long-term financial behavior—exactly the kind of mindset CSR-led financial inclusion seeks to nurture.

From Monthly Support to Long-Term Security: Women and the Lakhpati Behna Vision

Women participants openly shared that funds received under the Ladli Behna Yojana were fully consumed by daily household needs, leaving no scope for savings. The discussion shifted perspective by introducing the Lakhpati Behna approach—saving a small, consistent portion of the benefit through RD accounts to build assets over time.This conversation was not framed as sacrifice, but as empowerment. Women began to see how structured savings could help them prepare for emergencies, children’s education, and dignity in later years. For donors and banks, this is a powerful example of how government transfers, when paired with financial literacy, become engines of sustainable economic resilience.

Safety Nets for Uncertain Times: Government Schemes Explained Simply

Rural livelihoods are vulnerable by nature. Keeping this in focus, the camp emphasized government-backed security schemes—PMSBY, PMJJBY, and Atal Pension Yojana (APY)—using simple language and real-life scenarios.Elderly participants showed strong interest in APY as a source of assured income in old age, while younger villagers recognized the importance of insurance for protecting their families. These discussions transformed schemes from “complex paperwork” into affordable protection tools, strengthening trust in formal financial systems.

Walking into Banks Without Fear: Building Everyday Banking Confidence

Many villagers hesitate to visit banks due to fear of procedures or lack of un

derstanding. Addressing this gap, the camp focused on practical banking knowledge—savings accounts, deposits, mobile number linkage, and responsible service usage.With digital transactions becoming unavoidable, special attention was given to ATM and UPI safety, especially for elderly first-time users. These sessions were less about technology and more about confidence-building, ensuring that digital financial inclusion grows responsibly and sustainably.

Protecting Hard-Earned Money: Cyber Safety from the Village Perspective

Cyber fraud awareness emerged as one of the most impactful sessions. Villagers learned about fake calls, OTP misuse, fraudulent links, and biometric threats—issues that already affect rural communities but often go unreported.Some participants shared painful experiences of losing money without knowing where to seek help. Learning about the 1930 National Cyber Crime Helpline gave them renewed confidence that financial systems can protect them when used correctly. For CSR partners, this highlights the importance of risk-aware inclusion, not just access.

When Understanding Replaces Fear: Voices from the Ground

As the camp concluded, villagers expressed something deeper than satisfaction—relief and confidence. Statements like “Now we understand how to save”, “Earlier we were afraid of banks”, and “This knowledge will protect our families” reflected genuine transformation.These voices are indicators of sustainability. When people feel informed rather than intimidated, financial literacy becomes self-reinforcing, reducing dependency and increasing long-term engagement with banks and formal institutions.

Beyond One Camp: Building Sustainable Financial Futures Together

The success of the Financial Literacy Camp was driven by the dedicated efforts of our volunteers Muskan, Kartik, Aditya, Mayank, and Manmohan who ensured strong community engagement and active participation. The program was further strengthened by the guidance of our Director, Mr Mohit Modi, and the support of our CSR partner, Madhya Pradesh Grameen Bank. Implemented by ISCI Foundation, the camp was not a one-day intervention but a long-term investment in behavioral change, trust-building, and rural resilience. By aligning financial products, government schemes, and grassroots understanding, the initiative supported rural families in moving from survival to security, making financial inclusion sustainable through confidence, habits, and hope.