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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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