07.11.2020
Sh. Surinder Verma Chairman Citizens Awareness Group ( S E B I recognized Investors Association) from Chandigarh attended the program and interacted with penalists.
1. 25 eminent speakers from the financial sector joined the conclave on virtual platform from across the country.
2. The 3rd edition of “India Financial Literacy Conclave 2020” was held jointly with NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India), LUB (Laghu Udyog Bharti), IIA (Indian Industries Association) and LMA (Lucknow Management Association) on two half-days on 6th & 7th Nov.
3. Shri G P Garg, Executive Director, SEBI who joined from Mumbai informed that in the past 7 months 54 lakh new Demat accounts have been opened in the country which is leading to increased market participation by retail investors. He stressed on the need for investor education.
4. Theme of “Making Inclusive Prosperity Happen” was deliberated upon in 5 panels spread over two half days in 5 sub themes on youth empowerment, agriculture reforms, women empowerment, MSMEs & Startup and Role of BFSI sector.
5. The conclave was inaugurated on 6th Nov by Dr. Anup Chandra Pandey, IAS (Retd.) Member – NGT as chief guest & Shri Pankaj Kumar, National President-IIA, Chairman as Guest of Honor. Prof. Subrata Chakraborty, Chairmen of Advisory Board AWOKE India, Mr. AK Mathur, VP – LMA, and Mr. Pravin Kumar Dwivedi, President and Founder, AWOKE India Foundation were present. The valedictory address was delivered on 7th Nov by Mr. Om Prakash Mittal, CA, Former President, Lagu Udyog Bharti who joined from Jaipur.
6. In the Conclave, Financial Inclusion & Literacy Leadership (FiLL) Awards 2020 were conferred, in the Individual & Institution category. Shri Satyajit Dwivedi from Mumbai, CEO, National Centre for Financial Education was the winner and Dr. Vinay Kandpal, Dehradun was the runner-up in the individual category. Fusion Micro Finance, New Delhi was the winner and Margdarshak Micro Finance, Lucknow was the runner-up in the institutional category
During the first panel on Youth empowerment, Ms Vandana Bhatnagar, Chief Program Officer, NSDC shared emerging new job opportunities for youth & also advised about 750 online programs available on their e-skills portal. Kalyan Chakrabarthy CEO, PAN IIT Alumani Research foundation for India(PAARFI) informed that how PAARFI helped migrant workers find work in the construction sector during the pandemic. Kunaal Dudeja, CEO, Virohan-Delhi, informed that in India only 70% go to school and 9% reache the college hence skilling is the need of the our which they are doing in healthcare sector. Shri Venkateswar Lu, IAS, DDU-SIRD said that rural youth have ample opportunities in quality products in manufacturing handicraft and marketing, through ODOP Scheme of UP Government.
“To double farmers income we should directly connect them to buyers in the national and international market” advised Mr. Sanjeev Asthana, CEO, Ruchi Soya. Kapil Dev, EVP, NCDEX stressed upon the need for farmers to understand commodity markets trading to build this connection to markets.
A. K. Singh, Ex CGM, NABARD said that facilitation through the consulting bodies is needed for farmers & FPOs for benefits to reach them.
Speaking on women empowerment and economic prosperity, Dr. Urvashi Sahni, Chairperson, Study Hall Educational Foundation, gave example of one Miss Laxmi, young women who became an entrepreneur after her initial years as domestic help working in 7 houses. Natasha Jethanandani, CTO, Kaileidofin, who joined from Chennai, shared their work on tech solutions to meet the financial goals of the underprivileged, Misa Sharma of “Dvara Foundation” a research organization on household finance informed that women’s participation in labour force is only 20% in India which has to increase for inclusive prosperity. This session was chaired by Gayatri Srivastava a Media Academic & Author from Mumbai.
Mr. Sanjeev Chawla, Director, MSME, Delhi stressed on the need for MSMEs to understand the balance sheets & focus on finance besides other factors. Dr. Alok Mishra, CEO of MFIN said that small loans given to 6 crore women by MFIs in the country contribute to inclusive well being of over 30 Crore families.
Mr. G P Garg, ED, SEBI, informed that in the past 7 months, 54 lakh new demat accounts have been opened due to digital intervention. Chief of Marketing, NPCI, Mr. Kunal Kalawatiya advised that they have trained over 32000 people on digital payments in 500 campuses in last year. ShriKant Tanikella, COO of CAMS said “Mutual Fund Sahi Hai” initiative of AMFI has helped increase MF penetration in the country significantly. Session chair for this panel was Mr. Alok Ranjan, IAS, former Chief Secretary U.P.
In the valedictory session Mr. Om Prakash Mittal, CA, Former President, Lagu Udyog Bharti, shared that to get 5 Trillion Dollar economy, Financial Inclusion is necessary & he appreciated the efforts of AWOKE India in this area. In formal closure of the conclave Mr. Pravin Kumar Dwivedi, President, AWOKE India Foundation gave Vote of thanks to all the Panelist & Partners with whose help the conclave could successfully happen despite Covid-19 constraints.
AWOKE India Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 2012, works in the area of financial Literacy and Investor Awareness. It is the only “investor association” of Uttar Pradesh recognized by SEBI. In the last years, more than 350 awareness programs have been conducted in about 80 cities of the country and spread the message of financial awareness to more than 20,000 people, including different sections of the society like youth, students, doctors, professors, women, youth, retired people, Police and small and medium units are also included.
