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&T Finance Ltd. (LTF), one of the leading Non-  women entrepreneurs from the communities, providing
                                                                                                                                        Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) has       them with upskilling and enterprise development training
                                                                                                                                        empowered over 42 lakh community members      to help them build their businesses and enhance their
                                                                                                                                        so far through the ‘Digital Sakhi’ program    livelihoods.
                                                                                                                               Lwhich is a key initiative under Corporate Social
                                                                                                                                 Responsibility (CSR).                                In FY 2023-24, under the program, LTF has successfully
                                                                                                                                                                                      empanelled 400 Sakhis in the new geographies of Uttar
          DIGITAL SAKHI:                                                                                                         The program which was initiated in 2017, has consistently   Pradesh (Gorakhpur), Bihar (Supaul), Tamil Nadu (Madurai),

                                                                                                                                 expanded its geographical footprint in 7 states namely,
                                                                                                                                                                                      and West Bengal (Murshidabad).
                                                                                                                                 Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal,
                                                                                                                                 Odisha, Karnataka and Kerala with a cadre of 1,370 trained
                                                                                                                                                                                      Across existing and new program locations of Digital
          EMPOWERING                                                                                                             Digital Sakhis over the years. The aim of the program is to   Sakhis, there has been a commendable 12 percent increase
                                                                                                                                                                                      in the adoption of digital payments among the community
                                                                                                                                 create awareness on Digital and Financial Literacy amongst
                                                                                                                                                                                      members, promoting a cashless economy and enhancing
                                                                                                                                 the rural population.
                                                                                                                                                                                      financial inclusion.
          RURAL INDIA                                                                                                            Speaking about the progress of the Digital Sakhi program,   Progress made in the last financial year
                                                                                                                                 Ms. Apurva Rathod, Company Secretary & Chief
                                                                                                                                 Sustainability Officer at LTF recently said, “Our Digital
                                                                                                                                                                                       The Digital Sakhi project in Uttar Pradesh at Gorakhpur
                                                                                                                                 Sakhis have played an active role in bridging the last mile
                                                                                                                                 gap and facilitating convergence of government schemes,
                                                                                                                                                                                       first year of the project, more than 1,25,000 individuals
                                                                                                                                 conducting sessions in Gram Sabhas and the State      district was launched in the last financial year and in the
                                                                                                                                                                                       were reached through various awareness activities.
          Digital Sakhi equips rural women with the skills and knowledge to                                                      Rural Livelihood Mission programs and supporting the   Similarly, the project was launched in Bihar at Supaul
                                                                                                                                 community to obtain the benefits of government schemes.
          confidently impart Digital and Financial Literacy (DFL) training to                                                    The efforts of Digital Sakhis have been instrumental   district and it has started to show results on the ground.
                                                                                                                                                                                       In the first year of the project, more than 1,00,000
          households in their communities and nurture an ecosystem of digital                                                    in bringing the larger community into the ambit of    individuals were reached through various awareness
          financial transactions                                                                                                 entitlements. Our Digital Sakhi project has continued   activities.
                                                                                                                                 to invigorate the women empowerment narrative with
                                                                                                                                 many women rising up the ranks, from the confines of   The Digital Sakhi project was also launched in Tamil
                                                                                                                                                                                       Nadu at Madurai district and in the initial year, more
                                                                                                                                 their homes to being change agents in their community. In   than 1,00,000 individuals were reached through various
                                                                                                                                 FY24, our Digital Sakhis have effectively helped empower   awareness activities.
                                                                                                                                 over 11 lakh rural communities by promoting digital
                                                                                                                                 financial inclusion, providing impetus to 2,400 women   Lastly, the project in West Bengal at Murshidabad
                                                                                                                                 entrepreneurs.”                                       district was launched last year and during the year more
                                                                                                                                                                                       than 1,00,000 individuals were reached through various
                                                                                                                                 Digital Sakhi is a flagship program of LTF, that equips   awareness activities in the first year.
                                                                                                                                 rural women with the skills and knowledge to confidently
                                                                                                                                 impart Digital and Financial Literacy
                                                                                                                                 (DFL) training to households in their
                                                                                                                                 communities and nurture an ecosystem
                                                                                                                                 of digital financial transactions. The
                                                                                                                                 program focuses on Sustainable
                                                                                                                                 Development Goal (SDG) 5 – Gender
                                                                                                                                 Equality, wherein women are identified
                                                                                                                                 from rural communities and trained
                                                                                                                                 extensively on DFL, leadership, and
                                                                                                                                 technology. These women are called
                                                                                                                                 “Digital Sakhis‟. Each Sakhi is equipped
                                                                                                                                 with a mobile tablet with preloaded DFL
                                                                                                                                 modules. The program also nurtures


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