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| Workshops That Matter: |
| Help Us Choose the Next One! |
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| Dear Moneylifers, |
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| Every so often, we host sessions that we hope are useful, thought-provoking and practical. Our events are meant to equip you with knowledge that you can apply in everyday life, whether it is in dealing with authorities, protecting your finances or simply navigating the challenges of modern living. |
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| For the coming months, we would like to get your feedback on what we should focus on next. At the same time, we’ve also realised that some issues require more than just one-off events—they need one-on-one support. That is why we recently launched a credit counselling initiative led by Aparna Ramachandra, founder-director of Rectify Credit. |
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| Credit Counselling – A Growing Need |
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 This initiative has been receiving a very encouraging response. It is heartening to see people take that important first step towards resolving their financial difficulties. At the same time, it is also a sobering reminder of how widespread the problem really is. Many individuals are slipping into distress simply because loans are so easily available. App-based lenders and instant credit schemes often lure people in without a thought to repayment capacity. Add hidden charges, exorbitant interest rates and aggressive recovery practices, and what starts as a small loan quickly spirals out of control. |
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| Through this initiative, we are offering structured, one-on-one guidance to help people make sense of their credit reports, prioritise repayments and engage constructively with lenders. These sessions are appointment-based and open to anyone who wants clarity and a realistic plan of action. |
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| Alongside, our regular helplines continue to be active and busy. Members reach out to us with a wide range of issues—from housing society disputes and insurance or mediclaim claims, to banking problems, digital frauds and other consumer grievances. Our senior counsellors, Mr Shirish Shanbhag and Mr Abhay Datar, remain steadfast in their support, offering guidance over phone, online and through in-person sessions at our office. Their commitment and generosity with their time is something we are truly grateful for. |
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| Past Programmes – RTI as a Tool for Accountability |
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| Last month, we had the privilege of hosting a very engaging RTI workshop with Bhaskar Prabhu, a veteran activist who has spent decades helping citizens use the Right to Information Act meaningfully. He reminded us that RTI is a powerful instrument for social audits and systemic accountability—not a magic wand for instant fixes or personal grievances. |
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| What struck many participants were his real-world examples. He spoke about “paper trees” that existed only in government records and dustbins that were purchased but never seen on the ground. These stories underline how RTI, when used wisely, can expose discrepancies between what is claimed and what actually exists. |
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| Equally important was his emphasis on collective action. When citizens file RTI applications in isolation, they may hit roadblocks. But when groups of people use RTI in a coordinated way, the outcome is far more impactful. He also cautioned against the misuse of RTI. Filing frivolous or excessive applications, he said, dilutes the spirit of the law and can make it harder for genuine concerns to be heard. . |
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| For those who missed the session, I strongly encourage you to catch up—there was a lot of wisdom packed into his talk. You can read the full coverage here or watch the complete session on YouTube. |
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| What Next? Workshops & Handbook |
| Looking ahead, we have been tossing around a few ideas for our upcoming sessions and would love your feedback. |
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| • AI Tools |
 Artificial Intelligence is no longer something distant or futuristic—it's already around us, shaping how we work, learn and interact. Whether you're aware of it or not, AI tools are influencing how we draft documents, check information, manage finances and even engage with government systems. |
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| Imagine being able to use AI to help draft RTI applications, summarise bulky government reports or spot discrepancies in public records. For ordinary citizens, this could be a big step in levelling the playing field—giving us faster access to insights that otherwise take hours of manual work. But AI also comes with risks: questions of bias, privacy and over-reliance. A workshop here could help demystify these tools—exploring what's genuinely useful, what's hype and how you can use them smartly and responsibly. |
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| • Your Input on the Housing Society Handbook |
 We are in the process of putting together a new Housing Society Handbook—a practical guide to the common problems that members face, from maintenance charges and disputes with managing committees to redevelopment challenges, parking issues and legal compliance. We would love to hear from you on this - what topics or situations would you most like to see addressed in this handbook? Housing matters touch almost everyone in our community, and your suggestions will help us ensure that the handbook covers the issues that genuinely matter to you. Whether it's about everyday irritants or larger legal and financial complications, your feedback will guide us in making the handbook more relevant and useful for all. |
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| • Fraud Alerts |
 If there's one area where we've seen an explosion in recent years, it's financial scams. From fake investment schemes and phishing links to frauds in the name of KYC updates or digital payments—scammers are constantly evolving and ordinary people are bearing the brunt. |
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| At Moneylife Foundation, we often hear from members who've been victims of such fraud. Sometimes the losses are small but disturbing; at other times, they're devastating. A dedicated session could help us learn how to recognise red flags early, understand the most common tricks and know the right steps to take if you or someone you know gets caught in a scam. It's about being alert, aware and proactive, because prevention is always better than scrambling for remedies later. |
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| We would really appreciate it if you could take a moment to let us know which of these topics you'd find most useful—or if there's something else entirely you would like us to cover. Your suggestions guide us and we want our sessions to reflect your needs. |
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| Join us on WhatsApp and Telegram |
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| We realise that most members find it easier to access information on WhatsApp /Telegram etc. If you are not already on our lists, please click on this link to join – https://api.whatsapp.com/send/?phone= 917045156415&text= Hi%21+Please+add+me+to+your+broadcast+ lists+and+make+me+a+member.&app_absent=0 and follow our Telegram channel here – https://telegram.me/moneylife_foundation. |
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| Check our Free Helplines and Guides or Templates as well as our YouTube Channel, where you will find a wide repository of videos on various topics. |
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| Video recordings of all our webinars are available on our YouTube channel and will come to your inbox regularly if you hit the subscribe button. But if you want to be notified about future events through our mailing list, you do need to be a member. |
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| Moneylife TV & Helplines |
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| Financial Literacy Videos in Indian Languages: |
- Credit cards
- Online frauds
- Fallacy of gold loans and more in Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi and Tamil, all on our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/moneylifetv).
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| Get guidance and counselling through our Legal Helpline or Credit Helpline. |
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| Sucheta Dalal |
| Founder-Trustee, Moneylife Foundation |
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| Trustees: Walter Vieira, Sucheta Dalal, Debashis Basu. | | | | Moneylife Foundation is registered with the Charity Commissioner of Mumbai, is an Affiliate member of OECD's International Network on Financial Education, is a Supporter Member of Consumers International, Development Partner of Advocates for International Development (A4ID), and is a winner of the 10th MR Pai Memorial Award. | | |  | | | | Donations are eligible for tax benefits under Sec 80G of the Income Tax 1961 (50% tax exemption) and MLF is registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. 80(G) Reg No: DIT(E)/MC/80G/685/2010-11 dated 7.2.11 effective 8.+9.2010 | FCRA Registration No: 08378138  | | | |
