{"id":3889736,"date":"2025-09-15T09:52:53","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T09:52:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/?p=3889736"},"modified":"2025-09-15T11:06:46","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T11:06:46","slug":"a-rajasthan-childcare-centre-prepares-young-parents-for-their-childrens-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/latest\/news\/a-rajasthan-childcare-centre-prepares-young-parents-for-their-childrens-future\/","title":{"rendered":"A Rajasthan childcare centre prepares young parents for their children\u2019s future"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"3889736\" class=\"elementor elementor-3889736\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-dc0d41c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"dc0d41c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-776f5a0\" data-id=\"776f5a0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-91c6ff7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"91c6ff7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 22-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<h3><em><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Anganwadis in Jodhpur\u2019s Bilara district, the public childcare centres delivering prenatal and early childhood care, initiate delicate conversations around money matters so parents can plan confidently for their children\u2019s needs. A financial literacy programme prepares young mothers to have a say when saving for their children\u2019s future. Similar results are emerging across six countries, see Aflatoun\u2019s story, <strong data-start=\"433\" data-end=\"476\">\u201c<span style=\"color: #ffcc00;\"><a style=\"color: #ffcc00;\" href=\"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/latest\/news\/empowering-parents-securing-futures-how-financial-education-is-transforming-families-across-six-countries\/\">Empowering Parents, Securing Futures,<\/a><\/span>\u201d<\/strong> for the big picture:\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">*This article was prepared by Aflatoun International in collaboration with a local consultant, as part of a project funded by The Human Safety Net. All individual and village names mentioned in the article have been replaced with <strong>pseudonyms.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-105651d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"105651d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-43fcd09\" data-id=\"43fcd09\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-abc1ac4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"abc1ac4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 22-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Group-discussion-at-anganwadi-1024x576.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3889720\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Group-discussion-at-anganwadi-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Group-discussion-at-anganwadi-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Group-discussion-at-anganwadi-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Group-discussion-at-anganwadi-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Group-discussion-at-anganwadi.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d49004b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d49004b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b4026f1\" data-id=\"b4026f1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-97d95d6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"97d95d6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>[<b>Image:<\/b> Group discussion at anganwadi]\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-86be058 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"86be058\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-dec448c\" data-id=\"dec448c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80319a8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"80319a8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Text-box-12-1024x1024.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3889738\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Text-box-12-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Text-box-12-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Text-box-12-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Text-box-12-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Text-box-12-700x700.png 700w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Text-box-12.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1a1e098\" data-id=\"1a1e098\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a07061 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4a07061\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Jaswant Sagar Dam on the Luni River in the western Rajasthan district of Jodhpur was built by the Marwar king Maharaja Jaswant Singh II in 1892. The <i>Imperial Gazetteer of India<\/i> <span style=\"color: #ffcc00;\"><a style=\"color: #ffcc00;\" href=\"https:\/\/dsal.uchicago.edu\/reference\/gazetteer\/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V16_218.gif\">noted<\/a> <\/span>that the dam fed one of the largest artificial lakes in the country, its overflow irrigating over twelve thousand acres in the southern part of the district for almost a century. After years of governmental neglect, the dam suffered multiple collapses between 1984 and \u201986, creating a drought.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Rashid-<i>ji<\/i>, a retired engineer living in Ratalya village in the Bilara tehsil of Jodhpur, recounts that most of his neighbours opened bank accounts for the first time after this shock. \u2018We used to have a good crop here. Now that we couldn\u2019t depend on the dam for cropping <i>moong <\/i>(green gram), <i>jowar <\/i>(sorghum), <i>jeera<\/i> (cumin) and other spices, everyone started putting whatever they could in the bank.\u2019\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000080;\">\u2018<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b3ea152 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b3ea152\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-39a605a\" data-id=\"39a605a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a8e06a6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a8e06a6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">&#8216;Where we live, opportunities to make a living have always been hard to come by,\u2019 says the septuagenarian. \u2018That is why our ancestors devised a system of keeping a rupee and a half aside from every five earned. <i>Shareer mei peep aur jeb mei paisa, koi nahi rok sakta Marwari jaisa.<\/i>\u2019 (No one can stop the flow of pus from the body or money from the pocket like Marwaris.) The Marwar region, which includes Jodhpur and neighbouring districts in Rajasthan where this story has taken us, is popularly known for its thrifty culture, closely-knit trading communities, and sharp acumen for cash. It has historically played an outsized role in trade and finance in the Indian sub-continent.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ac7db3d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ac7db3d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8e015be\" data-id=\"8e015be\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e814b16 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e814b16\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Map-of-Rajasthan-1024x858.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3889722\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Map-of-Rajasthan-1024x858.png 1024w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Map-of-Rajasthan-300x251.png 300w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Map-of-Rajasthan-768x644.png 768w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Map-of-Rajasthan.png 1074w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-08a3e53 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"08a3e53\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4475e91\" data-id=\"4475e91\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93c0f8c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"93c0f8c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>[<b>Image:<\/b> Map of Rajasthan]\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-46e7b37 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"46e7b37\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9212fcc\" data-id=\"9212fcc\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cbe755c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cbe755c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><i>Do rupaye saugda.<\/i> That is another popular Marwari colloquialism, translating to two rupees for every hundred loaned. That is the interest rate compounded monthly by local money lenders, or <i>sahukaars<\/i>, charging as high as 24% per annum on loans outside formal banking mechanisms. Suman, a new mother visiting Ratalya\u2019s government-run childhood care centre, or <i>anganwadi<\/i>, explains the preference for such informal lenders despite their extortive rates. \u2018He comes by the house for small sums, \u20b92,000 or \u20b95,000. I can request a few days\u2019 extension if there is an issue with repaying on time.\u2019 Banks impose penalties.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Goma Ram, a landless manual worker from a former Untouchable community, complains about the alienating experience at the bank. \u2018You go there, and the manager will ask you for papers. Show your tax filings, proof of residence, and assets. Someone with a regular income can maintain a credit score. How can a daily wage earner or small shop owner produce such papers?\u2019 The <i>sahukaar<\/i> is indifferent to papers.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e3f2048 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e3f2048\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7c7a6f0\" data-id=\"7c7a6f0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-700d233 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"700d233\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 22-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Farm incomes help in tough times <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-38b7ffb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"38b7ffb\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9f77ff6\" data-id=\"9f77ff6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-229ab8e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"229ab8e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"279\" src=\"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Kanna-Ram-stands-outside-his-house-1024x447.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3889723\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Kanna-Ram-stands-outside-his-house-1024x447.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Kanna-Ram-stands-outside-his-house-300x131.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Kanna-Ram-stands-outside-his-house-768x335.jpg 768w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Kanna-Ram-stands-outside-his-house-1536x670.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Kanna-Ram-stands-outside-his-house-2048x893.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7955e8b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7955e8b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-24a2fc1\" data-id=\"24a2fc1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5dbb07e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5dbb07e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>[<b>Image:<\/b> Kanna Ram stands outside his house]\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c650699 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c650699\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7391568\" data-id=\"7391568\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7d0112a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7d0112a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Kanna Ram, 58, and his wife are daily wage earners who work on farms, construction sites, warehouses, or wherever a hand is needed. They live in Ratalya with their daughter-in-law, who recently gave birth to a grandson. A cloth swing in the courtyard in the middle of Kanna\u2019s home swaddles the three-month-old infant napping in the afternoon sun as he sits on a low <i>khatiya<\/i> bed made of woven rope and shares his plans for his first grandson, reflecting how many in the village think about financial planning before attending the financial literacy programme.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Like many others in the village, Kanna\u2019s son has migrated in search of work, moving to the tech hub of Bengaluru twelve hundred miles south. Migration has become a way of life for young men in Ratalya, working in the construction sector in the cities or agro-industries and small businesses in nearby towns. Remittances form a mainstay of the rural economy.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">\u2018We have never been to a <i>seth-sahukaar<\/i>. It\u2019s better to cut costs than mortgage your land,\u2019 says Kanna. What if there is an emergency? \u2018We only take loans within the family. When my <i>bahu<\/i> (daughter-in-law) came to this house after marriage, all I loaned for the wedding was around thirty thousand rupees. Only from relatives. Cutting costs is better than making a big show on credit.\u2019\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Weddings are often a source of considerable mental turmoil and financial strain, as conspicuous expenditure on food, clothes, jewellery and entertainment at weddings is equated with a family\u2019s social status and prestige. The Bollywood-style wedding is ruining families, the latest national-level data on credit behaviour <span style=\"color: #ffcc00;\"><a style=\"color: #ffcc00;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindubusinessline.com\/data-stories\/data-focus\/wedding-expenses-drive-farmers-deeper-into-debt\/article68417340.ece\">shows<\/a>,<\/span> with marriage-related loans topping the charts among causes for farmer indebtedness. Against common perception, banks are responsible for <span style=\"color: #ffcc00;\"><a style=\"color: #ffcc00;\" href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/in-80-farmer-suicides-due-to-debt-loans-from-banks-not-moneylenders-4462930\/\">more<\/a><\/span> stressed small-ticket loans than informal money lenders.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Putting a child through higher education in private institutes is another significant dip into savings and credit. \u2018We tend to go towards manual labour in our family,\u2019 Kanna explains, adding, \u2018Having a degree is no guarantee for a job. It is better to learn a trade or pick up a skill. The important thing is for children to follow their interests. That\u2019s the only way to become skilled at anything.\u2019\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">A technical or vocational course at an ordinary rural college today costs \u20b932,137 per year, six times that of an undergraduate degree, <a style=\"color: #000080;\" href=\"https:\/\/pib.gov.in\/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1593251#:~:text=In%20rural%20areas%2C%20average%20expenditure%20per%20student%20pursuing%20technical\/professional,VRRK\/VJ\/NK\"><span style=\"color: #ffcc00;\">latest<\/span><\/a> government figures indicate. Kanna wants to see his grandson train at an industrial technical institute (ITI) to become a mechanic, which he or his son could not. He has to start saving towards this from an early stage.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">\u2018We try to save rather than take loans,\u2019 says Kanna. Several days a year, he and his wife work on projects allocated by the <i>panchayat<\/i>, a local governance body that oversees public works under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). This influential programme assures poor and marginalised rural families 100 days of guaranteed work. The digitalisation of NREGS payments has also ensured that everyone in the family has a bank account.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">\u2018People know where to come whenever there is work in the village. We meet our regular expenses from what my wife and I make as labourers. It\u2019s hard to save anything every month.\u2019 Daily wages in this region are relatively high\u2014at \u20b9350 \u2013 400 (3.99 \u2013 4.56 USD) for a day\u2019s work, earnings here are above the national rural average, which <span style=\"color: #ffcc00;\"><a style=\"color: #ffcc00;\" href=\"https:\/\/ras.org.in\/index.php?Article=downturn_in_wages_in_rural_india\">stood at<\/a><\/span> \u20b9186.50 (2.12 USD) for unskilled and \u20b9264.70 (3.02 USD) for skilled male workers in 2022-23.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">In the last crop cycle, Kanna Ram\u2019s family earned around one hun fifty thousand rupees from growing legumes like <i>moong<\/i> and <i>chana<\/i>, millets and spices. They will set aside money for the next cycle from this sum. Seeds, pesticides, hired hands in the cutting season, transportation, <i>etc<\/i>., rack up a tidy bill even with the whole family working on the farm. Farm incomes during cultivation season, usually with one harvest a year, make up the bulk of savings or go towards more significant expenses. This means saving is usually a once-in-a-year affair, depending on the rain.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-83b1066 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"83b1066\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1e1588a\" data-id=\"1e1588a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d54cf23 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d54cf23\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Savings happen before spending <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-25025df elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"25025df\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b7be1d8\" data-id=\"b7be1d8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-edcf567 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"edcf567\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">\u2018The <i>anganwadi<\/i> has been very good to us. Rami [Devi, a childcare worker] is my neighbour, and she visits whenever it is time for a vaccination shot.\u2019 Kanna Ram wants to send his daughter-in-law to the centre again in a few months now that the newborn is healthy.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Rami Devi taught Hindi in a private school before being appointed an <i>anganwadi <\/i>worker in her village. She goes door to door to survey households, map infants\u2019 and mothers\u2019 needs, and ensure government services reach them.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b54aee3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b54aee3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-43c51d2\" data-id=\"43c51d2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-787b3ad elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"787b3ad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"447\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rami-Devi-is-in-charge-of-Ratalyas-anganwadi-447x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3889724\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rami-Devi-is-in-charge-of-Ratalyas-anganwadi-447x1024.jpg 447w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rami-Devi-is-in-charge-of-Ratalyas-anganwadi-131x300.jpg 131w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rami-Devi-is-in-charge-of-Ratalyas-anganwadi-768x1760.jpg 768w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rami-Devi-is-in-charge-of-Ratalyas-anganwadi-670x1536.jpg 670w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rami-Devi-is-in-charge-of-Ratalyas-anganwadi-893x2048.jpg 893w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rami-Devi-is-in-charge-of-Ratalyas-anganwadi-scaled.jpg 1117w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 447px) 100vw, 447px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-466266c\" data-id=\"466266c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3281c2c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3281c2c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Ratalya\u2019s <i>anganwadi<\/i>, which covers 468 households and a population of around 1,700, has implemented financial literacy modules under the <i>Right Start <\/i>programme for the better part of a year. This overlooked node in the public prenatal and early childhood care system has been completely transformed.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">\u2018Before they started attending sessions at the <i>anganwadi<\/i>, the women here used to think that savings were what was left at the end of the month,\u2019 says Rami, recounting the initial challenges in implementing the programme. \u2018The financial literacy programme encourages them to track their income and expenditure, plan in advance and set achievable savings targets for their child\u2019s needs. This way, we tried to show them that savings have to be accounted for before beginning to spend.\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3889725 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/The-anganwadi-at-Ratalya-was-identified-under-Save-the-Children-Indias-\u2018The-Right-Start-programme-300x131.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"131\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/The-anganwadi-at-Ratalya-was-identified-under-Save-the-Children-Indias-\u2018The-Right-Start-programme-300x131.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/The-anganwadi-at-Ratalya-was-identified-under-Save-the-Children-Indias-\u2018The-Right-Start-programme-1024x447.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/The-anganwadi-at-Ratalya-was-identified-under-Save-the-Children-Indias-\u2018The-Right-Start-programme-768x335.jpg 768w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/The-anganwadi-at-Ratalya-was-identified-under-Save-the-Children-Indias-\u2018The-Right-Start-programme-1536x670.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/The-anganwadi-at-Ratalya-was-identified-under-Save-the-Children-Indias-\u2018The-Right-Start-programme-2048x893.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>[<b>Image:<\/b> The anganwadi at Ratalya was identified under Save the Children, India\u2019s \u2018The Right Start\u2019 programme]\u00a0<\/em><\/p><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">\u2018There is no security in business or farming anymore. It is best to prepare kids for stable jobs with an assured income,\u2019 believes Rukma Devi, a grandmother who has come to the centre with her daughter-in-law Pushpa. At the first financial literacy session, guardians are told to list their expenses and identify targets for their children.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8d90418 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8d90418\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-46c2a1c\" data-id=\"46c2a1c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51aac83 elementor-widget-laptop__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"51aac83\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>[<b>Image:<\/b> Rami Devi is in charge of Ratalya\u2019s anganwadi]\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b9fb156 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b9fb156\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ec4b529\" data-id=\"ec4b529\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-207a344 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"207a344\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">\u2018I want my girl to learn English. I am now trying to admit her to the Hindi medium school in Bilara. Still, she should study in English after third grade,\u2019 says Kavita, 25, a regular at the <i>Right Start <\/i>sessions in the <i>anganwadi<\/i> and mother of four-year-old Meena. With the rising preference for private schools, even pre-primary tuition costs parents at least \u20b92,000 (22.87 USD) a year, leaving aside other expenses on uniforms, books and transport. An English medium school will charge at least \u20b97,000 (80.04 USD) annually.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Kavita moved to Ratalya after marriage. \u2018I had to discontinue my studies when I was ten because of financial constraints at home, so I started helping an uncle who ran a call centre. I learned data entry on the laptop and worked as a call operator from home for some months after moving here. I learned the value of saving only after I started working.\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\" data-contrast=\"auto\">Kavita had wanted to become a doctor. She wants her girl to be able to choose. Higher studies, she estimates, will easily involve a cost of four to five lakhs (around 4,574 &#8211; 5,718 USD). She and her husband may consider an education loan if their savings fall short.<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-54a690e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"54a690e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-080f2ab\" data-id=\"080f2ab\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9bf912c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9bf912c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"279\" src=\"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Kavita-maintains-a-diary-to-track-regular-savings-1024x447.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3889726\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Kavita-maintains-a-diary-to-track-regular-savings-1024x447.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Kavita-maintains-a-diary-to-track-regular-savings-300x131.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Kavita-maintains-a-diary-to-track-regular-savings-768x335.jpg 768w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Kavita-maintains-a-diary-to-track-regular-savings-1536x670.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Kavita-maintains-a-diary-to-track-regular-savings-2048x893.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1170e66 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1170e66\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7bb206c\" data-id=\"7bb206c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f5fe5e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2f5fe5e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>[<b>Image:<\/b> Kavita maintains a diary to track regular savings]\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-92e3a2f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"92e3a2f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cb57c22\" data-id=\"cb57c22\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4bd75f2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4bd75f2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">After feeding the animals awaiting her return, Kavita washes up and produces an expense-tracker journal that she has been maintaining. It has coloured columns that record dates, incomes, expenses, and savings. \u2018This diary is something I have taken to after attending the [<i>Right Start<\/i>] sessions at the <i>anganwadi<\/i>,\u2019 Kavita says. She uses it to help her husband keep accounts for a \u2018fancy goods\u2019 store in Bilara town where he sells toys, cards, imitative jewellery, cosmetics and various household items. Her family also owns 25 <i>bigha<\/i>, or around 4,125 square feet of land, some of which has been leased out. The crops are rainfed, and the whole family is involved in the harvesting, which is done by hand. Last year, they put aside around \u20b960,000 (685.99 USD) after the harvest. Kavita has set a monthly savings target of \u20b96,000 (68.62 USD). Managing the accounts makes her feel productive since women are often told to avoid working outside the home after marriage.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-85649f1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"85649f1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-944ad6f\" data-id=\"944ad6f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-caef547 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"caef547\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\u2018Men can earn, women have to save\u2019 <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5544c18 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5544c18\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fc0af65\" data-id=\"fc0af65\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e13bf0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7e13bf0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Kavita emphasises this when asked about the value of financial literacy to her. Brides are often left in the care of their in-laws when their young husbands work outside the district. \u2018They sometimes make excuses to avoid our meetings or start talking on the phone. Most have not studied beyond the fifth grade but know basic arithmetic. Our elders were more involved in managing household budgets when money was scarce. Women keep away from these matters today.\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">\u2018My in-laws were supportive of me getting a job. The company I was working in shifted to Jodhpur, so I quit\u2026 I think a girl should have a job and know how to manage expenses before she gets married.\u2019 When the question arises of what would be considered the ideal age to get children married, the women surrounding Kavita share a laugh when she says, \u2018Not a day before 25.\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Most women who come to the <i>anganwadi <\/i>in Ratalya have responsibilities at the farm and rear animals aside from managing their homes. Around 80 percent of farm work in India, including sowing, winnowing, harvesting and other non-mechanized farm occupations, <span style=\"color: #ffcc00;\"><a style=\"color: #ffcc00;\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/00220388.2021.1887478\">is<\/a><\/span> undertaken by women. Kavita complains that the value of their work is not usually recognised, even by the women themselves.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">In November 2016, the Government of India scrapped all \u20b9500 and \u20b91,000 denomination notes in circulation. This forced people to queue up to deposit their petty cash but came as a shot in the arm for the formal banking system. \u2018Earlier, she would keep the cash in a jar of <i>dal <\/i>(legumes), sometimes under a mattress,\u2019 said Payal, laughing at her friend Vidya in the <i>anganwadi<\/i>. Like Kavita, many parents now have fixed deposits at the bank for their children. The Rajasthan government\u2019s <i>Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana<\/i> (Girl Child Prosperity Scheme) has promoted 100 per cent inclusion in banking for all girls who come to Ratalya\u2019s <i>anganwadi <\/i>and encourages saving. It is a government-backed fixed savings scheme that matures when girls turn 21. Many women use the <i>Sukanya Samriddhi <\/i>bank account to save for their daughters after attending the <i>Right Start<\/i> financial literacy programme.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">\u2018In the second session I attended last October, they taught us to differentiate between wants and needs,\u2019 Kavita narrates. When speaking to parents in Ratalya, alcohol tops the list of wants, or unnecessary expenses, for men, while women agree that excessive spending on gold and clothes can be a want. <i>Dahej<\/i>, or dowry, parents agree, is also an unnecessary expense.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">On the other hand, building a <i>pakka makaan<\/i>, or a permanent dwelling, is now considered a necessity. Brick-and-mortar constructions were not the norm here, even for the previous generation. Some parents at the <i>anganwadi <\/i>agree that they might consider taking a home loan from the local cooperative bank. In previous sessions, they discussed the problems of taking loans from family members. \u2018It is a matter of your name. Small squabbles over not repaying relatives can sour close relations,\u2019 says Kavita.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">\u2018Small things, like sending my niece to the grocer\u2019s or involving her in deciding whether she needs that trinket she\u2019s been stubborn about\u2014these go towards making kids comfortable with handling money.\u2019 She adds that children should also be involved in making financial decisions at home after they turn 15 or 16 so that they can handle these matters confidently when running a household themselves.<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-66d55d1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"66d55d1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7d5212b\" data-id=\"7d5212b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b27b8d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0b27b8d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Text-box-2-1024x1024.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3889727\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Text-box-2-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Text-box-2-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Text-box-2-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Text-box-2-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Text-box-2-700x700.png 700w, https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Text-box-2.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3774ded\" data-id=\"3774ded\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ee36647 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ee36647\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">A three-member team from <i>Save the Children, <\/i>India, monitored and implemented the financial literacy campaigns in Ratalya<i>.<\/i> Sonish Goutam and Mukesh have been conducting the sessions at the <i>anganwadi <\/i>after a woman on their team shifted out. \u2018In my previous posting, people were more welcoming of us but hesitated to change their habits even after our sustained interventions. It was more difficult to win people\u2019s trust here initially,\u2019 Goutam tells me about his time in Ratalya. The social workers faced difficulties finding a place for themselves for the first ten days after coming to Bilara town because of caste and communal prejudices towards outsiders. \u2018My landlord, who had turned us away earlier, invited us back after he saw what we were doing at the <i>anganwadi<\/i>. Once they understood why we are here, they have been open to making changes, to make a better life for their kids.\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h3>\u00a0<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5579ed9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5579ed9\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6b2c195\" data-id=\"6b2c195\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-85e496e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"85e496e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">\u2018<\/span><span style=\"color: #000080;\">People started listening when we spoke of fixing targets and saving money for their children. Next, we want to help them understand that we cannot wait for unforeseen disasters. A medical emergency or a trip to a hospital in Jodhpur can empty a family\u2019s earnings.\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Kavita looks forward to these sessions. She sees the <i>anganwadi<\/i> as a place that can encourage women to go outside for work, teach them a trade, and connect them with employment opportunities. That is when they will have more say in the financial decisions affecting their children.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Jaswant Sagar Dam on the Luni, struck by disaster in the 80s, took years to return to its pre-collapse water levels. For the first time in four decades, last year, the dam\u2019s overflow once again filled many small streams out of Pichiyak village and irrigated the arid soil of Bilara and Ratalya. This yielded a bumper crop, a second harvest for the region\u2019s farmers. \u2018<i>Holi<\/i> was festive this time,\u2019 says Rashid-<i>ji<\/i>, referring to the spring festival celebrated across India in March. The long harvest from thrift, forbearance, and planning for the future as a community is not foreign to Ratalya.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Anganwadis in Jodhpur\u2019s Bilara district, the public childcare centres delivering prenatal and early childhood care, initiate delicate conversations around money matters so parents can plan confidently for their children\u2019s needs. A financial literacy programme prepares young mothers to have a say when saving for their children\u2019s future. Similar results are emerging across six countries, see [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3889720,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3889736","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3889736","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3889736"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3889736\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3889749,"href":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3889736\/revisions\/3889749"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3889720"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3889736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3889736"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3889736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}