Financial Literacy Programs at Ujjivan:
Financial education is core to Ujjivan Small Finance Bank’s mission to give more low-income families access to the financial tools and resources they require to achieve security and prosperity. Ujjivan SFB has played a key role in equipping women from low-income families with the knowledge and tools they need to save safely reduce financial risk and make informed, intelligent financial decisions.
Diksha + Pro (A financial literacy program for low-income group women)
Diksha+ is considered as one of the best financial literacy programs in India because women are able to assimilate the training modules in the formats they are very likely to remember. Diksha+ works on the premises that these women, never having gone through a formal education, neither have the discipline nor the attention span to sit through any kind of training other than a grade 1 format – story telling in parables; role playing; lot of games and finally a big thrill – a graduation day! Numerical skills, keeping a financial dairy, bank savings accounts, ATM cards, simple ways to regularly save for their “needs” and “wants”.
Ujjivan Small Finance Bank sees this as an opportunity where it can use Ujjivan as a platform to better integrate poor families into the formal banking system.
The project seeks to enable women from low-income families entering the formal banking system to understand the benefits of a small finance bank, teach them the importance of financial planning, as well as concepts and tools that help them save judiciously, borrow responsibly and manage debt prudently based on their financial capacity. To better integrate women into the financial sector, Ujjivan not only understands the local banking and regulatory environment but also these women’s lives. This includes the cultures in which they live and work, their role as caregiver, and their financial needs and goals.
Upgraded to the current needs, Ujjivan’s current program, Diksha+ Pro seeks to facilitate financial education at any client interaction; Weekly transactions will provide an opportunity to reinforce basic information that can help women access, use and benefit from a financial product. Diksha+ Pro is a combination of targeted interventions that will work together to improve confidence and change financial knowledge, attitudes and practices. The program facilitates financial inclusion using mass media, outreach by branch staff, in-classroom training, technology and mobile platforms and interactive material all of which will improve asset building and economic security among women by helping them better utilize their resources.
Since inception, the bank has trained about 12.4 Lakh beneficiaries through Diksha+ Pro Program till FY 23-24 and in FY 24-25, about 1,18,653+ customers were trained across 289 branches.
IL Diksha:(A financial literacy program for Nano-entrepreneurs)
Besides Group Loans, Ujjivan SFB offers various Individual Loan products designed to meet the immediate financial requirements of the marginalised communities.
Therefore, Ujjivan Small Finance Bank in association with Parinaam Foundation have developed tailor made curriculum for the Ujjivan Individual Loan Customers to educate them about the importance of managing finances efficiently with the help of banks. It is focussed towards enabling them to take right financial decisions that can uplift their living standards and secure their future. Providing access to Ujjivan products and services through the training program is also one of the major focus areas. Thus, it is a complete financial management and development model for the Nano-entrepreneurs who can uplift their lives with the help of Banks and formal Financial Institutions.
During the FY 24-25, 8180 Customers were trained in the IL Diksha program, of which, 94% were women. Through the program 39% customers repaid their loans on time & used digital options for repayment.
Ujjivan Entrepreneurship Development Program for MSME’s
Ujjivan in association with Haqdarshak have developed a unique financial literacy programme to bridge the knowledge divide among Nano and MSME entrepreneurs. The primary objective of this program is to equip entrepreneurs with the necessary knowledge and tools for them to make informed financial decisions and minimize risks. This program also enables entrepreneurs to understand about various MSME schemes that are launched by the Govt and how they can go about applying for them.
During the FY 24-25, 399 participants MSME’s attended the training, out of which 11% are women.
Pragati: (A financial literacy program for Nano-entrepreneurs in Assam)
A significant portion of our Microbanking and rural customers come from underserved communities that lack access to formal banking services. In regions like Assam, following the financial crisis, the Bank has designed a specialized financial literacy program aimed at educating nano-entrepreneurs on effective financial management. This includes guidance on diligent planning, budgeting, responsible borrowing, the importance of timely repayment, understanding credit scores, exploring digital banking options, and navigating various products and services. Additionally, beneficiaries were made aware of ongoing fraudulent activities and the necessary preventive measures to safeguard their financial well-being.
In FY 2024-25, 5684 beneficiaries were trained of which 69% are women; 44% are non-Ujjivan; 36% of the beneficiaries gained access to one or more products.
FLP Beyond Ujjivan
Ujjivan Small Finance Bank’s Financial Literacy Program goes beyond its customer base to empower individuals from both the organized and unorganized sectors with essential financial knowledge. This initiative reaches out to handloom workers, anganwadi Sevikas, healthcare workers, and members of auto and taxi associations—segments that are often underserved in mainstream financial systems.
Delivered in collaboration with trusted grassroot organizations, the program offers need-based financial education covering topics such as budgeting, savings, digital banking, responsible credit usage, and insurance. In addition to knowledge dissemination, Ujjivan also facilitates access to suitable financial products and services, enabling participants to make practical use of their learning and move toward long-term financial stability.
Financial Literacy Camps
Ujjivan Small Finance Bank, in line with the Reserve Bank of India’s guidelines, is conducting Financial Literacy Camps across its rural branch network. These camps aim to educate rural customers on key financial topics such as savings, credit, digital banking, insurance, and fraud prevention.
Curated in alignment with RBI guidelines, the sessions are designed to improve financial decision-making and promote inclusive, responsible banking practices. Through this initiative, Ujjivan strives to build a financially aware and empowered rural community.
During FY 24-25, camps were held across 178 URCs, following the curriculum and training materials provided by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Through these camps, 34,375 beneficiaries were trained, of which 73% were women, 27% were non-Ujjivan.
Partners
Parinaam Foundation
Ujjivan partners with Parinaam Foundation to impart financial literacy to the women and children of low-income families through its flagship programs – Diksha + and Chillar bank programs and provide access to the financial tools and resources they require to achieve financial security & prosperity.
Haqdarshak
Haqdarshak is the first Indian social enterprise to digitalize welfare programs on a single platform. Team Haqdarshak has been able to assist around 20,000 low-income people access benefits that they otherwise would not have been able to. Haqdarshak is part of the Facebook's Code for Next Billion group, a program for start-ups, and the Village Capital-Omidyar Civic Tech Accelerator. In partnership with Haqdarshak, Ujjivan will cover a range of topics including financing for business, central registrations, Govt. welfare and financing schemes for the MSME customers.
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