Financial literacy is instrumental for sustainable development, yet a majority of Indians, particularly in the rural parts of India, lack awareness when it comes to their social rights as citizens. Rishika Jaiswal and Ritika Shrivastava from Earth5R Varanasi visited an area near Suswahi, in the outskirts of the city Varanasi to conduct a social entrepreneurship and financial literacy workshop.
As has been often observed, villagers were not aware of their basic rights as a citizen. The team also noted that the head of the village – the Gram Pradhan – had not taken many efforts for building civic awareness amongst the villagers.
The Earth5R team educated the villagers about financial literacy, their basic rights, and conducted a session on creative waste management. The latter session playing a critical part in helping the villagers build a sustainable livelihood. The villagers can make products by recycling and upcycling waste products, and sell them to make a livelihood.
The Earth5R team also acquainted the men and women in the locality with the process of issuing an Aadhar card and ration card. The team talked to them about the various government projects and yojanas for women and girls that would benefit them.
The team was delighted to find out that one of the women in the locality was already involved in making and selling jewelry. But was shocked to hear that she only earned Rs. 9 for a 12 beaded neckpiece. The team provided her with information on places where she could sell the jewelry herself and fetch a lot better value for her work.
Financial literacy is a crucial part of sustainable development, but many people, especially in rural India, are unaware of their basic rights and how they can access essential services. Rishika Jaiswal and Ritika Shrivastava from Earth5R Varanasi saw this firsthand when they visited a village near Suswahi, just outside Varanasi. They were there to conduct a workshop on social entrepreneurship and financial literacy, with the goal of empowering the villagers with knowledge that could help them build a better future.
What they found was eye-opening. Many villagers, including the local Gram Pradhan (village head), were unaware of basic civic rights and the resources available to them. It became clear that there was a major gap in civic education, which had left many villagers disconnected from the benefits and protections they were entitled to as citizens.
The Earth5R team took the opportunity to educate the villagers on financial literacy, teaching them how to manage their resources and access government services like obtaining an Aadhar card and ration card. They also focused on waste management, showing the villagers how they could turn discarded materials into products for sale, thereby helping them generate income and develop a more sustainable livelihood.
One of the most touching moments came when the team learned about a woman in the village who had been making and selling jewelry, but was earning just Rs. 9 for a 12-beaded necklace. The team introduced her to better sales channels and pricing strategies, helping her understand the value of her work and how she could earn more for her craftsmanship.
The experience revealed a powerful truth: these villagers have tremendous potential but just need a little guidance and support to unlock it. With the right education, tools, and connections, they can thrive as entrepreneurs, and make a real impact on their own lives and communities. It’s a reminder of how much untapped talent exists in rural areas, waiting for the right opportunity to flourish.
– Reported by Rishika Jaiswal. Edited by Shaivya Sahare
