KOLKATA
L&T Finance Holdings Ltd (LTFH), a leading non-banking financial company (NBFC), has announced the launch of its ‘Digital Sakhi’ project in Baharampur town, located in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district.
The ‘Digital Sakhi’ project, part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, is designed to train and nurture rural women. These trained women, known as ‘Digital Sakhis,’ then promote women entrepreneurship and digital financial literacy within their local communities, according to a statement released by the company.
LTFH aims to create a dedicated cadre of 100 Digital Sakhis in Murshidabad. These Digital Sakhis will impart module-based training to the community, focusing particularly on women.
The Murshidabad launch comes on the heels of the project’s introduction in Madurai, Tamil Nadu on June 28. The ‘Digital Sakhi’ project’s rapid expansion is attributed to its successful implementation in various states, including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal, Karnataka, and Kerala.
LTFH managing director and CEO Dinanath Dubhashi expressed confidence in the project’s potential to bridge the digital divide and empower rural women. “We aim to bridge the digital divide and enable individuals, especially rural women, to unlock their full potential. We are confident that this initiative will pave the way for financial independence and inclusive growth of communities at large in Murshidabad,” he said.
Since its inception in 2017, ‘Digital Sakhi’ has fostered a community of 1,370 trained women, who have upskilled more than 11,000 women entrepreneurs. In the fiscal year 2022-23 alone, the Digital Sakhis trained and empowered over 11 lakh people through the program.
The project stands as a testament to LTFH’s commitment to social responsibility and the empowerment of women. By focusing on digital literacy and financial independence, ‘Digital Sakhi’ aligns with the broader national agenda of fostering a digitally-inclusive society. Its success in multiple states indicates a scalable model that could have a broader impact on women’s entrepreneurship and financial literacy across India.