Vodafone Idea Foundation’s ‘Jaadu Ginni Ka’ Financial Literacy Program Enables Tajmul Ansari, CSC Village-Level Entrepreneur, to educate over 15,000 Villagers of Ranchi District, Jharkhand

Vodafone Idea Foundation’s ‘Jaadu Ginni Ka’

 Financial Literacy Program Enables Tajmul

 Ansari, CSC Village-Level Entrepreneur, 

to educate over 15,000 Villagers of 

Ranchi District, Jharkhand

36-year-old Tajmul Ansari, residing in the Chanho village of Ranchi District in Jharkhand, hails from an underprivileged background. He was 17-years-old when he lost his father to a road accident. As the eldest son, the responsibility to provide for his family fell on his shoulders. He discontinued his education and took up menial jobs to earn some income.

Association with CSC Academy

Ansari joined CSC Academy, under the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), in 2016. On learning of their various programs that deliver essential services and information about digital and financial literacy to remote areas, it motivated him to serve his community. He registered to be part of CSC’ network of Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLE). After undergoing proper training, Ansari took up his first project to conduct digital financial literacy programs.

Challenges Faced

On his visits to villages, he realized that many households lacked awareness of money management. They were uninformed about financial instruments that could help secure their future. However, Ansari was undeterred by this challenge. He was determined to promote financial inclusion in rural villages.

Financial Literacy with ‘Jaadu Ginni Ka’

Over the last five years of his journey as a VLE, Ansari, through Vodafone Idea’s ‘Jaadu Ginni Ka’ program, focused on financial literacy and spread awareness on the need of financial management. ‘Jaadu Ginni Ka’, which is implemented in partnership with Learning Links Foundation, educates people on basic financial concepts such as investments, financial planning, digital financial tools, etc. The content offered is based on simple storytelling format and features engaging games and quizzes.

Through this program, villagers have discovered that saving even a nominal amount of Rs. 100 can help secure their future. “They have begun to understand ‘boond boond se sagar banta hai,’” says Ansari.

Ansari’ project of digital financial literacy took huge strides when he was selected to operate the technologically equipped mobile van recently launched by Vodafone Idea Foundation, under its ‘Jaadu Ginni Ka’ program.

The mobile van is fitted with laptops, an LCD screen, speakers, and generator. It allows Ansari to effectively communicate the message of digital financial literacy using audio and visual content. The mobile van also doubles as a classroom on wheels as villagers are encouraged to use the laptops to attempt interesting quizzes on financial literacy.

Impact on Ground

For Ansari, the impact of the financial literacy program is such that, today, village representatives call him and schedule sessions in the hope that their village will become financially literate.

The ‘Jaadu Ginni Ka’ program has enabled him to visit over 200 villages and educate over 15,000 villagers.

Ansari has helped many open zero balance bank accounts, apply for mutual funds and insurance. In the several villages he has visited, people now prefer cashless transactions on platforms such as Paytm. He is also known for providing digital services such as linking phone number to Aadhar card, application for PAN card and Passport, etc.

Imparting Awareness on COVID-19

Ansari and his team also repurposed the mobile van to conduct COVID awareness drives, distribute masks and sanitizers, during the onset of the COVID pandemic and the resulting nationwide lockdown. They also carried out over 50,000 antigen tests across remote villages.

What does the future hold?

When asked what’s next for him as a VLE, Ansari says, “My aspiration is to not only provide digital and financial services, but help villagers from remote areas understand that in today’ digital era all information and services are available just a click away.”