Dr. Rashmi Sharma President, Association of Inner Wheel Clubs in India And National Representative, India Empowering Women through Financial Independence

“A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform”. - Diane Mariechild

 Financial independence is the Key – it’s liberating and empowering – it also means ‘independence of thought’ Financial independence

 Awareness of financial knowledge lacking  Lack of confidence  Anti situation handling  Risk averseness  Money management ALARMing facts

 Skill Up-gradation – Provision of market relevant trainings  Create awareness of training programs  Training by Women  Capacitating women  Self Employment – Publicize Government schemes – Providing marketing facilities What Inner Wheel Can Do?

 Microfinance – Reduces poverty level – Brings  courage and self confidence  economic development directly  indirectly leads to happiness  peace in the family – Improves  literacy level of rural women  awareness on children education What Inner Wheel Can Do?

 Financial Learning Environment – Learning in a group – Use female trainers/achievers as role models – Importance of starting in school  Supporting Women in Planning for – Retirement – Avoiding over-indebtedness

 Addressing Needs of Specific Subgroups of Women – Young girls / Elderly – Low income / Unemployed – Urban / Rural – Married / Unmarried – Educated / Uneducated – Orthodox / Unorthodox – Victims of violence The attitude differs, social norms differ and so the content and delivery method should also differ for each subgroup  Encouraging Joint Family What Inner Wheel Can Do?

 Changing Mindset – “If you have the courage of conviction you can succeed in any system.” Women do have to try harder, but if they accept the status quo and let their talent go to waste, there’s no one else to blame. Thus, it’s important that women change the usual and make something unusually worthwhile for themselves by means of financial independence. What Inner Wheel Can Do?