DHIRAA SKILLDEV FOUNDATION
Integrated financial education and skilling
We are a non-profit organization, dedicated to advancing inclusive growth through financial literacy and skilling opportunities.
Vision and Mission
To create a financially empowered India by making financial discipline a cornerstone of our society, especially among unserved and underserved segments.
WHY DHIRAA
Dhiraa’s approach is all about empowering Women, Persons with Disabilities, Young Adults, Senior Citizens, Government Employees, Farmers and other segments. Dhiraa believes that even small contributions can create significant positive change and aims to bridge the gap between urban and rural communities through partnerships with various stakeholders, including local organizations, government agencies, and NGOs. Their holistic approach to financial literacy covers various aspects of the financial journey, from savings to protection and investment, and is designed for scalability to reach a wider audience for a broader impact.
YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR IMPACT FOCUS:
Village, Aspirational District, Rural or Urban.
Bridge urban and rural audiences via collaborative partnerships with stakeholders, including local organizations, government agencies, NGOs and other institutions
Integrated approach to financial literacy, addressing a wide range of topics across the financial journey saving, protection, investment spectrum as well as relevant government programs.
Dhiraa’s programs are designed to scale, allowing us to reach a larger audience and have a wider impact.
DHIRAA'S IMPACT
Aligned to United Nations' SDGs
Our focus on underserved segments, including women, persons with disabilities, and more, ensures inclusivity. With scalable initiatives and holistic education, we foster economic stability, reduce inequalities, and promote well-being, in line with the UN’s vision for a sustainable world.
Dhiraa Track Record
Across 8
Underserved locations
ADVISORY BOARD
Ms. Anuradha Rao
Ms. Rao retired as Deputy Managing Director (Strategy and Digital Banking), State Bank of India (SBI). Prior to that, she was MD & CEO, State Bank of India Mutual Fund. Ms. Rao has over 36 years of experience in banking and finance and has worked at the State Bank of India in several leadership positions in India and overseas. During her tenure with SBI, she helped establish SBI as the largest Home Loan lender, as the largest Auto Loan lender and as a leading player in the Private Employer Corporate Salary space. In addition to driving market share of SBIMF, she also helped establish SBIMF as a full fledged advisor for Amundi helmed UCITS funds composed of Indian debt and equity. She has strong experience of digital transformations, having introduced digital platform for sourcing and lead management, driving the Yono project which provides Omni channel banking services in SBI and establishing digital delivery platform for SBIMF. She was the Nominee Director on the Board of NPCI (September 2018- September 2019), Director on MasterCard AP Advisory Board ( September 2018- September 2019). She served as a Board Member of the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) and is currently an Independent Director on the Board of Northern Arc Capital, a systemically important NBFC.
Ms. Surekha Marandi
Ms. Marandi retired as Executive Director of Reserve Bank of India (RBI). She has over 30 years of experience, having worked across several departments at the RBI including overseeing Regulation and Supervision across diverse sectors viz., Commercial Banks, Financial Institutions and the Co-operative Sector as also Human Resources, Financial Inclusion, Consumer Protection and Communication. She has served in various Offices of RBI in Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Guwahati and Mumbai and was also the Chief Vigilance Officer of RBI. During her tenure as Executive Director, the National Strategy of Financial Inclusion 2019-24 was approved by FSDC, The National Centre for Financial Education was set up, the “RBI Kehta hai” campaign was initiated and an integrated ombudsman for Banks, NBFC and PPIs was put in place. She has served on several RBI Committees and on the Boards of United Bank of India and Bank of Baroda, Investor Education and Protection Fund and NCFE. Currently she is an independent director on the Boards of three companies. She is also working with two nonprofits, a digital lender and is on the Governing Board of IIM Raipur.
Ms. Angana Banerji
Angana brings a wealth of expertise and leadership from her distinguished career at the IMF, where she currently serves as Deputy Division Chief in the Asia Pacific Department and leads the IMF’s country team for Mongolia. Her extensive experience spans across various roles, including leading the IMF’s policy and analytical work on structural reforms for the Euro Area and serving as country team lead for several nations including Tonga, Cyprus, Netherlands and San Marino. Angana has worked on a broad range of advanced and emerging market economies such as Greece, Indonesia, Malaysia, Russia, and Vietnam and has participated in evaluating the IMF’s performance before the global financial crisis as a Lead Evaluator at the IMF’s Independent Evaluation Office from 2010 to 2012. She holds a Masters in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University and a Masters and PhD in Economics from Columbia University.
LEADERSHIP
Dhiraa’s inception was motivated by a striking absence of practical financial education spanning all societal groups. We aim for continuous, multi-series engagement with thorough impact assessment. Collaborations and community involvement drive our scalable, sustainable vision for financially empowered India.
Mona Kwatra
Co-Founder
9Colab Ventures
A member of the Advisory Council at TISS’s Centre of Excellence in Teachers Education (CETE)
An award winning, experienced, integrated marketing advisor, she founded 9CoLab with the aim of dialling up profit with purpose for early stage startups. 9Colab offers integrated and affordable GoToMarket
She also advises on capacity building for Social & ESG Impact Projects and is a strong advocate for nurturing ‘partner-species'(flora & fauna) ecosystems.
Priya Subbaraman
Co-Founder
Priya is a seasoned financial services professional with over twenty-six years in Indian and global financial institutions including stock exchange, investment and commercial banks and securities houses, several in leadership roles. She was the Chief Regulatory Officer of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) leading a team of over 475 members. She has had stints in Kotak Mahindra, Lehman Brothers, Goldman Sachs, Standard Chartered Bank. She is currently an Independent Director in Sustainable Energy Infra Investment Managers Private Limited and Axis Asset Management Company Limited. Her past directorships were with National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) and NSE Academy Limited. She is also Senior Adviser in Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, among India’s preeminent law firms. She is a member of the Advisory Council of the Centre of Excellence in Teacher Education (CETE), TISS and was a member of the CII Corporate Governance Council.
FAQ's
Yes, Dhiraa offers services across India. We are committed to reaching individuals and organizations in every corner of the country to empower them through our training and awareness programs
Dhiraa operates as a social impact enterprise with a core mission of propelling financial well-being by enabling access and educating communities on the importance of Financial Education. We are a registered NGO and aim to adopt a comprehensive approach that merges integrated financial literacy and skill enhancement, facilitated through community networks and structured outreach. We have applied for and received a provisional 80G certificate. All Donations will get 80G tax benefit.
To register as a Trainer with Dhiraa, please visit our “Join” page on our website www,Dhiraa.org. Fill out the required information and submit your application. Our team will review and get in touch with you to discuss the next steps.
If you are interested in becoming a Sponsor for Dhiraa’s initiatives, please contact us through the “Support Dhiraa” page on our website. Do check out the Ways to Engage section. We welcome partnerships and collaborations with organizations that share our vision for empowerment and education.
Booking a training with Dhiraa is simple. Visit our “Book a Training” page on the website, by clicking on Support Dhiraa select the training program section, and write to us with the booking instructions, locations, audience details and a profile of yourself. If you have specific questions or requests, feel free to reach out to our support team for assistance and you can even book an Appointment with us by clicking on this LINK
Yes, Dhiraa aims to provide training and awareness programs in various districts across India. To find out if we offer Training in your specific district, do reach out and Write to us . We continuously expand our reach to serve as many communities as possible, and we understand that we can not do this alone. Therefore, we are happy to collaborate with the ecosystem players, other third parties, and institutions.
We value innovative ideas and welcome proposals for new training courses. To submit a proposal, please do write to us through the “Contact Us” page. Happy to discuss your proposal and consider it for inclusion in our program offerings
Yes, Dhiraa offers specialized training and awareness sessions tailored for Corporates, Small Business Owners, Employees, Entrepreneurs, and SMEs. These programs are designed to address the unique needs of each group and help them thrive in their respective fields. Please write in
Through targeted training programs, Dhiraa is committed to supporting NGOs, Self-Help Groups, and Education and Public Institutions. Write to Us to discuss your specific requirements, and we will customize a training plan to meet your organization’s needs.
Dhiraa offers specialized training and awareness sessions for Government employees, Armed Forces personnel, and Auxiliary Services. Our programs are designed to enhance public officials’ and related personnel’s knowledge of Financial Literacy. Please explore our Government and Security Services training options for more details.
There are various ways to collaborate with Dhiraa, including becoming a Donor, Trainer, Sponsor, or Partner. To explore opportunities and learn more about how you can work with us, please visit our “Ways to Engage” page on the website or contact us directly.
Dhiraa offers a wide range of training programs, including but not limited to leadership development, skill enhancement, entrepreneurship, digital literacy, and more. We want to offer financial literacy courses across the Saving, Protection, Investment and more.
Yes, we have created a dedicated Community section where you can register and post your queries related to both financial knowledge and skill options. You will receive responses from the community, and we will also strive to answer your questions. Our goal is to foster a supportive community of learners who can help each other through forums and discussion groups.
You can contribute to our mission by spreading the word about our website, volunteering to mentor or assist other learners, donating to support our initiatives. You can also help us connect with simple but practical livelihood opportunities, especially in rural areas, that can benefit local women, farmers, youth, and people with disabilities. This will create a more vibrant, interconnected ecosystem. Every contribution, big or small, helps us make a more significant impact in promoting integrated financial education and providing access to skilling and vocational opportunities where required and overall promote long-term financial well-being.
We measure the impact of our initiatives by tracking our learners’ progress and success stories. We collect feedback and assess the positive changes in their lives and communities resulting from the skilling and financial education programs. The community interactions we facilitate within the larger ecosystem will play a key role in building a peer based interconnected open ecosystem.
Dhiraa distinguishes itself through Integrated Learning. We recognize the critical role of financial knowledge and assistance in enabling livelihoods. India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (including India Stack) and Government Schemes have opened up new avenues to earn livelihoods that can be enabled via financial inclusion and skilling awareness. Awareness will help enable access to these opportunities by homogenous audiences based on their education levels, means, location and other parameters. Our approach emphasizes that integrated financial literacy is not just about knowledge but also about behaviors and skills required for long-term earning and economic well-being. We are deeply committed to accessibility, inclusivity, and empowerment, setting us apart from other platforms.
Most of the skilling and earning opportunities we catalogue are in partnership or technical tie-ups with respected and registered third-party organizations with their own methods and practices. While we prioritize practical skill and vocational programs, our programs may only sometimes be accredited by formal institutions. Dhiraa does not assume responsibility for the accreditation status of these institutions, as they operate according to their own regulations and compliance standards.
Our mission is to empower individuals from all walks of life by building financial awareness and enabling them to earn a livelihood. In skilling we will catalogue potential new age or tech enabled livelihood opportunities. We facilitate means to access these opportunities and foster financial literacy through training and community interactions, ultimately enabling people to improve their lives and communities.
Our platform aims to educate by offering financial education workshops as well as a range of practical skill and earning options, particularly those enabled by technology, growth finance, and the new digital economy. Our goal is to highlight various interests and career paths, whether you are living in a village or a city, regardless of your education level. We are dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship and enabling everyone to earn a paycheck.
JOIN US
We are constantly looking for people and collaborators who want to work together within the financial inclusion and skilling ecosystem.