Franklin Templeton (India) yesterday flagged off ‘Change the Soch – Kanyakumari to Kashmir Drive’ – a first of its kind nationwide campaign aimed at promoting financial empowerment, especially among women. Commemorating Franklin Templeton’s 30 years in India, this 30- day journey will kick off in the southern tip of the country in Kanyakumari covering 21 cities, and conclude in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir. Through interactive financial education sessions, expert insights, and community engagement, the drive aims to demystify mutual fund investing and inspire confidence among thousands of Indians to take charge of their financial future.
Avinash Satwalekar, President – Franklin Templeton India, will lead the drive, championing financial inclusion through this journey across the country. He will stop every other day in a new town or village to host investor education workshops for diverse groups of women, emphasising the importance of saving, investing, and building long-term wealth to achieve life goals. The initiative will engage a wide spectrum of participants, majority being women including farmers (from fishing communities to those involved in varied crop cultivation), academia (students, parents, school and university teachers), self-help groups (women engaged in the food and handloom sectors), entrepreneurs, private and government sector employees, and army, navy and police personnel.
Speaking on the launch initiative, Avinash Satwalekar, President, Franklin Templeton–India, said, “Financial literacy among women is fundamental to India’s long-term socio-economic progress. While urban centres have made meaningful advances, lakhs of women across Bharat, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 regions remain underserved in terms of access to financial knowledge and tools. Through this initiative, we will engage with women from diverse walks of life and empower them with the knowledge and confidence to save, invest and adopt digital finance.”
He added, “When women make informed financial decisions, households could become resilient, communities could thrive and the country moves closer to inclusive growth. Bridging this gap is more than education – it is a vital step towards India’s ambition of Viksit Bharat (developed nation status) by 2047 and building a more inclusive and sustainable financial ecosystem.”