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| Take Charge of Your Data: |
| Upcoming Seminar on Digital Privacy |
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| Dear Moneylifers, |
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 Our personal data isn’t just information anymore — it’s currency, and we’re giving it away every single day. Every time you use an app, shop online, share your number or even click “Accept Cookies,” someone is collecting, profiling and monetising your personal details — often without your knowledge or consent. Once that data is out there, it can be used to manipulate your choices, track your movements or even steal your identity. |
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| If you think you have nothing to hide, think again. Your medical history, financial records, family details and online habits can all be weaponised against you — by advertisers, fraudsters, or worse. To help you take back control, we are hosting a seminar that shows you how much of your information is already out there, what protections exist (and what don’t) and practical steps you can take to protect yourself. |
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| Upcoming Seminar: “Our Data, Their Wealth: Why Privacy is the New Currency” |
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 We’re excited to host Adv Murali Neelakantan, former Global General Counsel of Cipla and Glenmark and an expert in data privacy and digital rights. In this session, he will unpack the key risks of sharing personal data online, including surveillance, profiling and identity theft. He will also share practical ways to protect your privacy and regain control of your personal data in everyday digital life. |
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| Event Details: |
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| Whether you’re worried about your personal information being misused, curious about the legal protections available, or just want to feel more confident navigating the digital world, this seminar is for you. Be sure to register early to secure your spot! |
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| RBI’s New Guidelines on Settlement of Deceased Customers’ Accounts |
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 Alongside workshops and events, our advocacy continues to bring real change for citizens. that RBI has issued new rules making it easier for families to settle deceased customers’ accounts. Banks must now process claims within 15 days, and delays can attract penalties. Over the years we’ve highlighted the difficulties families face—long delays, excessive document demands, and uncertainty even when valid nominations exist. Our advocacy and engagement with regulators has helped push for these changes. |
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| Under the new rules, nominees with valid nominations or survivorship clauses need only submit a claim form, death certificate and ID. For accounts without nominations, a graded approach simplifies claims up to Rs15 lakh (commercial banks) or Rs5 lakh (co-op banks). This is a big step forward and shows how collective action and persistent advocacy can lead to real change. This should make settling accounts smoother and less stressful for families at a difficult time. For details, see the full article here: RBI Notifies New Rules for Settlement of Deceased Customers’ Accounts, Banks To Face Penalties for Delays |
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| Activists’ Meeting: Redevelopment of Railway Land in Mumbai |
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| In early October, we hosted a brainstorming session at the Mumbai Press Club with over 50 participants — activists, urban planners, researchers, and citizen representatives — to discuss the proposed redevelopment and monetisation of railway land in Mumbai. |
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| The discussion highlighted the importance of protecting public land for public purposes, funding essential services like housing, education, healthcare, and transport, and preserving open spaces. Participants also raised concerns about environmental impact, equity, and the need for better coordination among authorities. The meeting concluded with a commitment to prepare a white paper on the equitable and sustainable use of Mumbai’s public land, focusing on railway properties. This will consolidate expert input and citizen perspectives to guide authorities toward sustainable, inclusive urban development. |
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| SBI Pension Arrears: How Our Intervention Helped Make Things Right |
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 We were heartened this month to see the State Bank of India finally make amends in the pension arrears case after our intervention. The case involved a nominee, Ms Geeta Aiyer, who had spent eight long months battling SBI’s Centralised Pension Processing Centre (CPPC), facing stonewalling, misinformation and demands for unnecessary documents—even though she was the legitimate nominee (Read: How a Nominee Fought 8 Months of SBI Red Tape To Claim Mother’s Pension Arrears) |
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| Upon publishing her story in Moneylife, we flagged the matter directly to the ethics executive’s office in SBI’s chairman’s office. That move prompted swift action: senior SBI officials contacted Ms Aiyer, visited her residence, and initiated corrective steps. The bank acknowledged the delay was improper and moved quickly to settle the arrears. (Read: SBI Finally Makes Amends in Pension Arrears Case after Moneylife Intervention) |
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| This is a clear example of how persistent advocacy, media exposure and standing with affected individuals can make a real difference. It reminds us that when you speak up, systems sometimes listen and correct themselves. |
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| Support Our Work This Festive Season |
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 As the festive season begins, we hope you’ll consider supporting our work and helping us strengthen our initiatives. Every contribution allows us to continue empowering citizens and protecting their rights. Even a small donation goes a long way in keeping programs like our online helplines and in-person counselling running—and reaching more people who need help. |
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| If you’d like to contribute, you can donate online or get in touch with us directly: https://www.mlfoundation.in/donate.html. |
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| We’re grateful for your continued trust and support. |
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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  | | | |
