A unique approach to financial inclusion
1. MULTIPLE TOUCHPOINTS
Reinforcing behavior change
Participatory financial awareness workshop
The workshop is the first of Mein Pragati interventions. It advocates good financial practices such as saving by reducing non-essential expenses; making informed decisions related to credit; investments in relevant products such as pension, and insurance; and government-run schemes.
Refresher sessions, guided bank/ATM visits
What follows are refreshers and guided visits to build each partipant’s confidence. During the refresher sessions, the women are encouraged to accurately track and monitor their cash flows using budget diaries.
Goal-based financial planning for the future
Subsequently, the women are encouraged to make goal-based financial plans for their future, culminating in financial health card-based counseling for each participant. Personalised financial health cards generated by the Mein Pragati App aid each participant’s self-awareness through socio-economic profiles created, basis self-reported information. The health cards also facilitate goal-based financial decision making with recommendations specific to each participant profile.
A pool of trained community-based volunteers
The programme leaves behind a pool of trained community-based workers/volunteers to carry on addressing the community’s immediate financial needs.
IVR-based audio dramas
Mein Pragati continues to engage with participants and community members alike through IVR-based audio dramas to champion good financial habits, and sustain programme recall over an extended period.
Community level meets
An interactive platform for community members and financial service providers, the meets facilitate financial linkages.
2. THE MEIN PRAGATI FRONT LINERS
CRISIL Mitras, and Sakhis
CRISIL Mitras, typically young adults with minimum qualification of passing Class XII, are the front-line community-based workers facilitating financial capacity building interventions. CRISIL Mitras once recruited undergo intensive Train the Trainer sessions and are assigned goals in line with Mein Pragati programme goals. The Mitras are assessed at the end of each lifecycle. Following an evaluation, they undergo need-based capacity building.
Sakhis are enterprising women from Self Help Groups (SHGs) that have participated in Mein Pragati interventions, and continue engagement with participants to assess progress and address queries. This pool of trained Sakhis and Mitras will continue to champion and reinforce financial inclusion.
3. THE MEIN PRAGATI FRONT LINERS
The Mein Pragati Android App for CRISIL Mitras
The Mein Pragati Android application has been developed to aid end-to-end project management, generate socio-economic profiles for participants, and recommend financial goals based on information shared by participants (thoroughly reviewed by field staff). The application has an easy to use interphase, designed to bridge knowledge and skill gaps inherent in excluded rural communities.
Similarly, automated IVR-based audio messaging is used to continually disseminate information that reinforces key programme messages.
4. THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT
Developing a skilled community cadre at the grassroots
We will leverage our experience in creating a pan-India cadre of rural financial experts at the grassroots in rural communities. We have begun creating this cadre with over 300 CRISIL Sakhis in Assam and Rajasthan as on date. A two-tier structure - CRISIL Mitras (Master Trainers), and Sakhis (Community-based facilitators) - will build capacities of their fellow villagers, driving outreach through the multiplier effect. The Sakhis will be certified based on their proficiency.
Resource library
We know it’s a minefield out there. To get started, here are samples of our customised resource kits for various target groups.
The sample toolkits include:
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Excerpts from the manual to Train the Trainers
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Visual aids used to build capabilities of our beneficiaries
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Sample budget diary
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Sample Financial Health Card (with modules for rural women)
Financial inclusion for rural women
Helps a facilitator/master trainer prepare for interactive sessions. The kit includes an excerpt of the training manual along with a few visual aids/props. These have been designed to encourage discussion, share good financial habits to increase savings, monitor cash flows, set and achieve financial goals through income generation, expense management, bank facilities and services, credit, relevant local financial products and services, and Self Help Groups.
- Training the trainer
- Visual aids
- Budget Diary
- Financial Health Card
Financial inclusion for urban women
Helps a facilitator/master trainer prepare for interactive sessions. The toolkit includes an excerpt of the training manual, along with props and visual aids facilitating learning through the story of a family of three – Seema, Yash, and their 10 year-old daughter, Gauri. Concepts covered include savings, bank, credit, insurance, and pension.
- Training the trainer
- Visual aids
- Budget Diary
Financial inclusion for small and marginalised farmers
Helps a facilitator/master trainer prepare for interactive sessions. The toolkit includes an excerpt of the training manual, along with props and visual aids to help farmers :
Plan their monetary needs during a crop cycle
Integrate the financial needs of their family with their farming needs
Learn about Government & Non Government financial tools and services
- Training the trainer
- Visual aids
- Budget Diary
Mein Pragati Android Application
Mein Pragati is the proprietary Android application of CRISIL Foundation. The application has been developed to aid implementation of financial capability building interventions under Mein Pragati.
The Application was conceptualised to:
(a) bridge existing knowledge and skill gaps inherent to traditionally-excluded communities, and
(b) empower CRISIL Mitras and field staff as community-based workers.
The technology-based solution enables accurate and personalised feedback to thousands of women, along with consistency in the method of feedback given to each participant. The application also strengthens day-to-day project management, and effectively mines more than 10 million data points to empower each participant to make informed financial decisions.