Date: 07-Aug-2024
Location: Satyam Community Centre
On 7th August 2024, SARVAM, in partnership with PayNearBy, conducted a transformative workshop at the Satyam Community Centre, Puducherry, focused on promoting financial independence among rural women. Thirty participants were trained to use the PayNearBy app, specifically through the “Digital Naari” platform, which empowers women to become self-employed entrepreneurs in their communities.
The workshop aimed to bridge the gender gap in entrepreneurship by equipping women with the skills and knowledge to offer a variety of digital and financial services, such as cash withdrawals, money transfers, and mobile recharges. Participants learned about the app’s user-friendly features 
that allow them to operate flexibly from their homes or stores, making them “banker didis” in their communities. The training highlighted the significance of financial inclusion, demonstrating how these women can become agents of change by ensuring that even the most marginalized groups have access to essential banking services.
The enthusiasm was evident as the participants expressed interest in starting their own businesses using the app. With tools for financial management, marketing, and customer engagement, the app promises to support the women’s entrepreneurial journey, ultimately contributing to their financial empowerment and the economic development of their communities. This initiative showcases the power of fintech in driving women’s economic growth and fostering long-term self-employment in rural and semi-urban areas.