Crisil, a credit rating, risk and financial research organisation, said that it has created a 1,000-strong financially literate group in Assam through a year-long financial awareness programme.
Crisil said it would extend the programme to more states in the North-East and also set up a ‘train the trainer programme’ to accelerate the effectiveness of the campaign.
The programme in partnership with Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Nidhi (RGVN), a non-profit organisation, was conducted mostly among women — small entrepreneurs, members of self help groups and students.
The participants were introduced to financial planning, cash management, savings, insurance and risk management.
The training was imparted in 25 sessions in the local language in nine districts, including ones in the remote corners of the state.
According to Crisil, many of the participants who had got caught into a debt-trap and lost money to unregistered “savings” companies and money-lenders in the past, felt empowered to make better financial decisions in future.