Noida: When Khushboo Kumari from Bihar first began earning at 20, she did not know how to manage her money. Working a small job in her hometown, she carefully saved whatever little she could, only to hand it over to her family, unsure how else to use it. Financial planning was never part of the conversation, she said. That changed when she moved to Pune at 22. A mentor introduced her to basic investment ideas such as stocks and systematic investment plans (SIPs). “That’s when I realised money could be managed and grown,” she told TOI, describing how that moment reshaped her thinking about financial independence.For 25-year-old Ashwini, awareness began much earlier. As a Class 10 student, she developed a habit of saving her pocket money. Once the amount felt substantial, she accompanied her father to the bank. There, staff members explained the basics of handling money. “That’s where my financial journey started,” she said. The early exposure gave her confidence and sparked a long-term interest in understanding how money works.Though their journeys began in different circumstances, Khushboo and Ashwini share a common goal: to understand finance deeply, both personal and organisational, and to eventually build something of their own. Their stories mirror the lived reality of many women who grow up managing responsibilities but receive little formal guidance on financial decision-making.Addressing this gap was the focus of a financial literacy session organised at Indian School of Development Management, Sector 62, under the nationwide ‘Change The Soch Drive’, an initiative by asset management company Franklin Templeton in collaboration with The Times of India. The campaign is travelling more than 4,000 km across 21 cities, from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, carrying a message that financial awareness is not a specialised skill, but a necessity.Chief guest at the event, police commissioner Laxmi Singh, spoke about the social patterns that often keep women away from financial decision-making. Drawing from her experience serving in various parts of UP, she noted that women routinely shoulder household responsibilities but are rarely encouraged to take part in formal financial discussions. “In many regions, I observed, girls grow up with fewer educational and economic opportunities, making financial awareness even more critical,” she said.Singh pointed out that women frequently participate in savings through self-help groups and rural banking initiatives. While this demonstrates discipline and intent, many remain unaware of how savings can be converted into safe, structured investments. Bridging this knowledge gap, she said, can significantly strengthen women’s independence and decision-making power.Avinash Satwalekar, president of Franklin Templeton Asset Management (India) Pvt Ltd, emphasised that financial confidence is rooted in awareness. Women, he noted, are often left out of family financial conversations, a pattern that initiatives like this aim to change. Once people understand the fundamentals, money-related decisions become less intimidating and more accessible.During the session, Satwalekar explained key concepts such as the difference between saving and investing, the impact of inflation, and the importance of long-term planning.
