Spreading Financial Literacy

Swaatantra (meaning “Freedom”) is an initiative by young 16 year old Shlok Chandak to spread financial literacy amongst the marginalised sections of the Indian society. Today, India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and also has a banking and financial services sector which is well regulated, safe and uses world class technology. At the same time, the Government has also launched a number of well thought out savings programs and insurance benefits for the common man. 

However, Shlok strongly feels that while India as a country is growing well and offers huge opportunities for savings and investments, currently only the educated financial literate India has access to the right knowledge to benefit from the options. The uneducated common man who is not yet financially literate and unaware has not been able to take advantage of the economic boom by saving right and investing right.  One stark data point here is that while India GDP has hit almost $ 3.7 trillion (March 2024), the per capita income is still very low at roughly $2,700 given the large population of 1.4 billion people. 

A large portion of the population both in urban and rural India still does not have full knowledge of the various options for savings, investments, insurance and pensions. Another growing threat is getting lured in ponzi schemes and the risk of online financial frauds.

Shlok strongly believes that if the under privileged of India have to progress then there is an urgent need to spread financial literacy  and thus “Swaatantra” was born. Swaatantra’s mission is independence of a different kind– “Financial” independence – through the spread of knowledge 

“Little drops make an ocean”. Swaatantra is a small start but at its heart is an aspiration of a financially literate and prosperous India. 

We endeavor to work at the grassroots, with local communities - drivers, maids, house helps, slums, Municipal schools.  Please let us know if you want us to organise a workshop in your community