Financial Literacy Initiative undertaken by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
Basic Financial Education
SEBI has undertaken the following initiatives for basic financial education:
- Financial Education through Resource Persons Program to impart financial education to public. The eligible individuals trained and empanelled as RPs (in districts) by SEBI who can conduct free workshops in local language and are paid honorarium. The basic concepts of finance, banking, insurance, pension and investments are covered across five Target groups (viz. Home Makers, Self-Help groups, Executives, Middle Income Groups, Retired personnel). During the workshops, free financial education booklets are distributed.
- Visit to SEBI by students
- Financial Education Booklet covering basics of concepts like Financial planning, Savings, Investment, Insurance, Pension, Borrowing, Tax saving, caution against Ponzi schemes, Grievance redressal etc
Sector Specific Financial Education
SEBI has the following initiatives for sector focused financial education:
- Investor awareness programs by SEBI recognized Investors’ Associations
- Regional Seminars in association with Exchanges/Depositories
- Commodity awareness programs by SEBI recognized Commodity Derivatives Trainers
In addition to the above, SEBI has also undertaken the following initiatives:
Participation in World Investor Week in association with International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO)
With the objective of highlighting the initiatives taken by various financial market regulators in the direction of conducting investor protection and education awareness activities, IOSCO has been organizing every year a weeklong global campaign referred to as World Investor Week (WIW). SEBI participated in IOSCO WIW by organising various financial literacy and investor awareness programmes during this week across the country.
Dedicated Investor Website
A dedicated website http://investor.sebi.gov.in is maintained for the benefit of investors. The website provides relevant educational/ awareness material and other useful Further, schedules of various investor and financial education programmes are also displayed on the website for the information of investors.
Mass Media Campaign
In order to reach out to people, SEBI has embarked on a mass media campaign giving relevant messages to investors through popular media. Since year 2012, SEBI has carried out various awareness campaigns in multi mass media (TV/Radio/Print/bulk SMS) on topics as mentioned below:
- Investor grievance redressal mechanism
- Collective Investment Scheme – Unrealistic returns.
- Collective Investment Scheme – Don’t Go by Hearsay.
- Application Supported by Blocked amount (ASBA) – Initial Public Offering (IPO).
- Dabba Trading
- Caution against Hot Tips
Additionally, posters on cautionary messages listed above were printed in various languages and distributed to district collectors, panchayat offices, etc. in various languages.
Investor Grievance Redressal
SEBI has been taking various regulatory measures to expedite the redressal of investors grievances. The grievances lodged by investors are taken up with the respective listed company or intermediary and continuously SEBI Complaints Redressal System (SCORES) has helped the investors in real time knowledge of status of their grievances since investors can log onto SCORES at any time and from anywhere and check the status of the grievances with the help of user-name and password provided to them at the time of lodging grievances.
SEBI Toll Free Helpline
SEBI had launched toll free helpline service numbers 1800 22 7575/1800 266 7575 on December 30, 2011. The helpline service is available every day from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (except on declared public holidays in Maharashtra) to investors from all over India. The helpline service is available in English, Hindi and various regional languages.
Important Links:
SEBI-Investor Grievance Redressal Mechanism
SEBI-Check Investment Scheme(CIS)
SEBI-CIS Unrealistic Returns
Selling future,Godown & loan Story
Importance of ticker board at the time of sowing 2
Importance of ticker board at the time of sowing 1
Beware of Unsolicited SMS Investment Tips English
Cautioning against Dabba Trading English
