Shillong: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Shillong Office, conducted a Field Level Financial Literacy Event (FLFLE) on March 25, 2026, at Mukhaialong village, Wapung, in East Jaintia Hills district, Meghalaya, as part of its ongoing efforts to promote financial literacy and awareness among the general public.
In his opening remarks, Olden Nongpluh welcomed all the participants and highlighted the background and importance of FLFLE. He also explained in local language the importance of financial inclusion, awareness, education, literacy, planning, budgeting, saving etc. and urged all the participants to take advantage of the program and pay attention to the speeches by various speakers so that they can put to use what they learn from the programme.
F. Passah, Assistant Commissioner, Government of Meghalaya, explained to the participants the importance of having accounts with banks, cultivating saving habit, bank loans and ensure that the bank accounts are in order so that transfer of benefits from various government schemes to their accounts are successful. He also conveyed to the participants a short story highlighting the importance of dealing with banks and urged everyone to get enrolled in various social security schemes so that they can protect themselves and families from unforeseen tragedy.
D. Thiarta, from MSRLS, stressed on the five core operation principles of Self-Help Groups for success and financial inclusion under DAY- NRLM: regular meetings, regular savings, regular inter-loaning, timely repayment and up-to-date book keeping. She also explained the various government sponsored schemes and particularly the Atal Pension Yojana, highlighting the scheme’s key features, eligibility criteria, nominee facility, etc.
The village Headman welcomed the officials and participants and expressed his gratitude to RBI for organizing the programme at his village. He also encouraged all the women participants to bring their husbands to such programme in future so that men of the villages also benefit from such programme and be encouraged to deal with loans from banks to support their business or farming etc. He also appreciated the initiative of the RBI in promoting the financial literacy in Meghalaya and urged the bankers to apprise the rural folks about the benefits of availing credit, including KCC, wherein state government has taken measures to provide full interest subvention to the borrowers.
S.N. Lamare, DDM, NABARD, highlighted NABARD’s role in supporting agriculture, rural infrastructure, and financial inclusion initiatives.
Officials from SLBC, LDM, State Bank of India and MCAB Ltd. sensitised participants on various banking schemes, including Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, PMJDY, SHG loans, and KCC. They also stressed the importance of timely loan repayment, maintaining credit discipline, Aadhaar seeding for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), and responsible use of digital financial services.
Officials from RBI, Shillong, made detailed presentations on financial planning, social security schemes, Re-KYC, and digital platforms such as UDGAM Portal, MANI App, and UPI. They also highlighted precautionary measures against cyber fraud and informed participants about grievance redressal mechanisms, including the Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, 2021.
The programme was attended by Olden Nongpluh, GM(O-i-C), RBI Shillong Office; F. Passah, Assistant Commissioner, Government of Meghalaya; E. Blah, General Manager, Meghalaya Rural Bank; DDM NABARD, LDM, Officials from SLBC, MSRLS, Meghalaya Rural Bank, MCAB Ltd, SBI, village Headmen and participants of nearby villages.
