Project Details

Digital Budget Rani is the next stage of the journey toward financial inclusivity. In today's world, much of our daily activities have gone online. This increased connectivity has opened up new opportunities in terms of employment and access to more services and gives us greater control over our finances. However, this isn't true for everyone, particularly many women who are often reliant on others for accessing resources and services. This leaves them particularly vulnerable in a world where digital transactions are growing more common, leaving them on the wrong side of a pervasive digital divide. To reduce this digital divide, Yugantar has introduced a program that seeks to teach women how to utilise the link between their bank account and phone number to send, receive and ultimately save money.

Many women in this socio-economic group often face barriers to participation due to limited access to technology. Unlike typical solutions that might involve providing access to smartphones, Digital Budget Rani seeks to teach people methods that have been engineered for use without smartphones and a data connection. For example, NPCI developed Ultra Cash BHIM is an IVR method that can be used without connection to the internet or a smartphone. The curriculum extends to app-based UPI procedures as well and community advocates are present to walk participants through these processes. 

Our experience with the Budget Rani program taught us the value of such community advocates in providing information and a sense of security in financial matters. 60 trained women in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, known as Digital Budget Ranis, are helping others understand and leverage UPI effectively as well as teach online safety practices. 

Yugantar's curriculum is designed to be accessible to all, offering multimedia educational tools with clear, step-by-step instructions, information on government initiatives, and awareness about potential scams—all presented in Telugu. The project's goal is to impact 40,000 women by the program's conclusion.