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| Celebrating 15 Years of |
| Impact & Empowerment! |
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| Dear Moneylifers, |
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 Greetings! This month marks a significant milestone for Moneylife Foundation as we celebrate 15 years of empowering citizens through financial literacy, consumer awareness and advocacy. Over the years, our efforts have led to meaningful reforms in many areas that affect you, while our expert talks, helplines and research reports continue to guide individuals in navigating complex financial and legal matters. As we mark this milestone, we thank our members, supporters and experts who have helped us drive change. Stay with us as we push for more reforms in financial literacy and consumer rights! |
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| Last year, we launched two comprehensive reports on Bank Charges and Challenges in Transmission of Assets; we saw our efforts on retirement homes come to fruition with MahaRERA announcing guidelines for such homes in the state; we hosted a round table discussion on the important issue of adult guardianship and organised talks with expert speakers on many topics of importance. Meanwhile our helplines and counselling sessions have continued to provide guidance and advice to countless invididuals on their grievances related to banking, insurance, housing society, right to information and consumer matters. |
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| As we step into another year of impact, here’s a look at what you can look forward this month! |
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| Upcoming Seminar on Challenges Faced by MSMEs |
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 Over the years, we have seen Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) struggle with mounting challenges—unfair lending practices, disputes with creditors and regulatory hurdles that make running a business even harder. Many MSME owners are unaware of their legal rights or lack the resources to fight back when faced with unjust treatment by financial institutions. Addressing these issues is critical, which is why we are pleased to share details of our upcoming seminar with Adv Manoj Harit on 7th March 2025. |
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| This session will provide MSMEs with essential insights into their rights, practical strategies to navigate disputes and ways to avoid legal and financial pitfalls. |
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| Date: 7th March 2025 |
| Venue: Indian Merchant’s Chamber Building, Churchgate, Mumbai. |
| Time: 5:00pm – 7:00pm |
| Register Here: https://www.mlfoundation.in/event_registration/helping-msmes-navigate-financial-and-legal-challenges-adv-manoj-harit/382.html |
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| From loan rejections to aggressive debt recovery and regulatory complexities, MSMEs face an uphill battle when dealing with financial institutions and authorities. Without proper legal awareness, they often fall victim to unfair practices, leading to unnecessary financial strain. This seminar aims to empower MSMEs with the knowledge and tools needed to safeguard their businesses. |
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| Adv Manoj Harit, a seasoned advocate with extensive experience in debt recovery tribunal (DRT) cases has helped numerous MSMEs navigate these challenges. He’s been an entrepreneur himself, having managed a textile unit and is still engaged in horticulture at Malegaon, while practising law in Mumbai. His deep understanding of financial regulations and dispute resolution makes him the perfect guide for this discussion. |
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| If you or someone you know runs an MSME, I strongly encourage you to attend this session. Register now and help spread the word so more MSMEs can benefit from this invaluable discussion. |
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| Understanding Insurance Challenges: Key Takeaways from Our Session with Jehangir Gai |
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| Insurance is meant to provide financial security, but consumers often face roadblocks when making claims. To shed light on the various challenges and unethical practices in the sector, we recently hosted a session with consumer activist Jehangir Gai, who shared valuable insights into claim rejections, policy terms, agent responsibilities and regulatory gaps. |
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| During the session, Mr. Gai explained how vague policy wording, procedural delays and the lack of standardised claim processes often put consumers at a disadvantage. He also highlighted the importance of understanding policy terms, the role of insurance agents and the need for greater transparency in the industry. |
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| For those who missed the live discussion, you can read our detailed event report here: https://www.mlfoundation.in/event_registration/health-insurance-decode-claim-rejections-and-fight-back/381.html |
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| You can also watch the full session on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpvoNnujAug |
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| Moneylife Foundation remains committed to spreading awareness and advocating for fairer practices in the insurance sector. If you have faced difficulties with insurance claims, our guidance and counselling services as well as helplines can help. Learn more about it here. |
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| Counselling and Helplines |
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 Advocate Avinash Phatak has been anchoring counselling sessions on housing society matters in the absence of Mr Shirish Shanbhag and his sessions have become immensely popular. In fact, due to additional demand Adv Phatak has graciously extended his timings for the session and has offered to provide counseling from morning 11:30 am onwards on fortnightly Thursdays. |
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| As you know, we now offer regular counselling sessions on the following days: Tuesdays for banking, consumer and insurance matters with Mr. Abhay Datar; and Thursdays for housing society, property matters, Mhada, Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), cessed buildings, as well as criminal and consumer litigation with Adv. Avinash Phatak. |
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| Counselling is available both in-person and via video conferencing through Zoom by prior appointment. To schedule, please call 022-35131664 or 35036925, or submit your query through our legal helpline. |
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| Please also make an effort to visit and share the links to our website, where you can read more about cases of mis-selling, fraud alerts, consumer cases and also solutions to housing society problems. |
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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: TS Krishnamurthy, 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  | | | |
