• The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, has launched Phase II of its flagship financial literacy initiative-Niveshak Didi—at Hyderabad.
• The initiative focuses on deepening financial awareness and empowering rural communities, particularly women, by adopting a “women-for-women” model where female trainers address queries, ensuring comfort and relatability for rural women participants.
• Launched by IEPFA in 2016, Niveshak Didi is one of its key initiatives, alongside Niveshak Panchayat and Niveshak Shivir.
• It serves as a catalyst for bridging knowledge gaps, building financial confidence, and fostering informed decision-making within communities.
• The IEPFA, established under the Companies Act, 2013, manages the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) and plays a vital role in promoting investor awareness, protecting financial interests, and facilitating refunds of unclaimed dividends, matured deposits, debentures, and shares to rightful investors.
• Through Phase II of Niveshak Didi, the authority aims to strengthen grassroots financial literacy efforts, making women the drivers of inclusive and sustainable financial empowerment in rural India.