DHFL Sets Up Community Based Financial Literacy Centers In Jaipur

Draws people through engaging Street Plays and Nukkad Nataks to ensure lasting impact amongst audiences, Plans to extend these programmes across in Rajasthan

India CSR Network

JAIPUR: DHFL, a private sector housing finance companies, recently launched ‘Sharmaji ke Sawal, Vinodji ke Jawab’ – a first of its kind financial literacy programme in Jaipur, Rajasthan to demystify finance for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and Low-Income Group (LIG) households. As a part of the program the company organized ‘nukkad nataks’ or street plays, on a simple Q&A sequence between two Characters ‘Sharmaji & Vinodji ‘to educate/train local community members of Jawahar Nagar, Kathputli Nagar and Shastri Nagar on the nuances of financial products including savings, loans and protection.

Designed to support the Government’s ‘Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana’ and vision of ‘Housing for All by 2022’, this program will assist underserved groups in navigating the transition from informal settlements into safe, hygienic, affordable housing. The program will also supplement the achievement of Rajasthan Government’s objective to address the dire shortage of affordable housing in urban areas of Rajasthan through the Chief Minister’s ‘Jan Awas Yojana’, which is focused on creating housing for EWS/LIG consumers in urban areas. Rajasthan has an urban population of about 24.8% and faces a severe shortage of affordable houses in urban areas like Jaipur where over 22% of population lives in slums.

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Talking about the initiative, S Govindan, Head CSR, DHFL said, “Our financial literacy programs are directly aligned to DHFL’s vision to transform the lives of Indian households by enabling access to home ownership. For over 3 decades we have reached out to millions of customers in semi-urban and rural India to help them fulfil their dream of owning a home. Towards this mission, DHFL is constantly finding innovative, engaging and impactful ways to connect with the communities it serves. Our financial literacy program is one such initiative to prepare the LMI segment to move out of their current informal dwelling to formal houses. We are receiving an overwhelming response as we touch innumerable lives through such engaging local education and awareness activation that will go a long way to create lasting impact and intend to take these road shows to various other locations across Rajasthan.”

Community based approach in demystifying complex financial systems

Once the eagerness of the community is raised to know about various opportunities to up lift oneself, DHFL’s  Financial Literacy & Advisory Centers takes over. These Centers are manned by community members who have been trained by DHFL in all aspects of financial planning, education and understanding complex procedures involved in applying for Government or private affordable housing. The community ambassadors take local households through financial literacy drives and educational seminars through which they understand the formal financial systems, play a transformational role in changing mindsets that eventually helps them to move into a formal housing development.

DHFL’s CSR Activations

DHFL, as part of its CSR commitments has been delivering sustainable solutions to encourage equal opportunity, maximize human development and leverage the aspirations of youth, women and vulnerable populations. The aim of DHFL’s CSR initiatives is to not only extend financial support but also make a long-lasting difference to each person and their communities. Towards this, all CSR programmes of the company are regularly measured for both financial and social effectiveness.

Respect, pride and dignity are the key pillars of DHFL’s CSR endeavors along with empowerment and inclusion. Its CSR programmes are aligned in letter and spirit to the guidelines laid down by the government for the purpose of meeting goals related to human development. It has currently undertaking CSR initiatives in the areas of Education, Skill Development and Rural Development with a focus on Drought Mitigation in the states of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Assam.

DHFL was founded in 1984 by Late Rajesh Kumar Wadhawan with a vision to provide financial access for Indians to own a home of their own. Today, led by Kapil Wadhawan, CMD, DHFL, the company is CARE AAA rated and reckoned as one of India’s leading financial institutions with a large presence across the country, in addition to representative offices in Dubai and London. Throughout its years of growth, DHFL has stayed true to its core vision of financial inclusion, especially to the low and middle income customers across India.