Chandigarh, 18 August: NSS Units of Mehr Chand Mahajan DAV College for Women organised a session on ‘Financial Literacy and Investment Awareness’ to equip students with essential knowledge about informed financial planning, responsible money management and long-term investment.
The session featured Ms Rutvi Sharma, renowned Financial Counsellor, as the resource person. A key focus of the session was the power of compounding and the importance of consistency in financial planning. Ms Sharma explained how returns accumulated over time can contribute significantly to long-term financial growth. She emphasised that awareness must translate into informed participation and highlighted the need to strengthen financial literacy, particularly among women. The resource person provided students with an overview of financial planning and various investment avenues, including mutual funds and their different categories. She stressed the importance of understanding an investment product before investing in it. She also clarified that a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) is a method of investing rather than a financial product, and cautioned students against treating projected returns as guaranteed outcomes. The session also addressed practical aspects of financial management, including maintaining an emergency financial buffer, managing high-cost debt, protecting against critical risks, and periodically reviewing and rebalancing investments. Gold bonds and electronic forms of gold were also discussed as part of the broader investment landscape. An interactive question-and-answer session marked the conclusion of the programme, with students actively raising queries and seeking clarification on various aspects of personal finance and investment.
Officiating Principal Ms. Neena Sharma appreciated the NSS Units for organising the session and emphasised the importance of equipping young women with financial awareness and responsible money-management skills. She noted that financial literacy is an essential life skill that enables individuals to make prudent decisions, plan for the future and work towards greater financial independence.