From the narrow lanes of Ranchi to remote villages in Jharkhand, a quiet transformation is underway. At the heart of this change is a simple mobile app called Swadhaar Saathi, used by thousands of individuals to take control of their finances, sometimes for the very first time in their lives. But this isn’t just an app; it’s a story of dignity, agency, and self-belief.
Swadhaar’s CEO, Amrita Kapoor, recalls how many women would attend financial literacy workshops but struggle to sustain habits afterwards. Diaries were misplaced. Concepts forgotten. The gap between knowledge and implementation remained wide. So the team began wondering—what if the solution could live in everyone’s pocket? With growing smartphone access, the idea for a simple and intuitive app took root.
Swadhaar CEO chatting with rural women and understanding their needs
Swadhaar Saathi was designed not just for digital convenience but for behavioural transformation. Built with co-creation from trainers and the community, it helps users track expenses, build savings habits, and learn how to generate financial goals and save for them through short, friendly videos.
With growing smartphone penetration even among low-income and semi-literate populations, the app was envisioned as a self-paced learning tool to promote financial and digital literacy. It’s not just about recording expenses; it’s about building confidence and autonomy.
Swadhaar Trainer explaining to clients how to use the Swadhaar Saathi app
App Adoption and Initial Experiences
Reactions were mixed. Some people were excited; others were sceptical. Would this app deduct money from their accounts? Was it safe? But patient, ongoing support from trainers—and the trust built over the years—helped convert caution into curiosity. Slowly, they began logging their daily expenses: vegetables, fees, mobile recharges, even small digital payments.
Designing Swadhaar Saathi wasn’t just about building a simple app; it was about making it work for first-time smartphone users with varying levels of literacy. As Amrita put it, the real challenge was balancing simplicity with usefulness.
But even with the right design, challenges quickly emerged. Many users were sceptical, unsure if the app was safe or another fraud. Others lost interest after the initial excitement faded—user fatigue set in. And with phones already packed with distracting apps, keeping users engaged was tough.
To address this, the team began exploring ways to make the app more habit-forming, adding reminders, gamified features, and small rewards. Because real change wouldn’t come from downloads alone, but from regular use.
Hear From the Clients
Pratiksha Nikam, 26, shared how she used to feel unsure at first. Now, she confidently records every transaction and even holds monthly budget discussions with her family.
Pratiksha Nigam with our trainer after learning to manage her finances
Swati Kadam, 36, shared that she found the latest version of the app easier to use and suggested adding small rewards for regular use could motivate other users to stay consistent. Another user began with daily micro-savings using the app, which eventually grew into a recurring deposit and later, a fixed deposit.
Client from Jharkhand after managing her spendings
For Santosh Tandurkar, tracking daily income was made much easier. Whether a car loan EMI needed to be paid or household expenses had to be managed, the App was regularly checked to see how much money was available and how much needed to be set aside. What he appreciated most was that his entire family’s income could be added in one place. This allowed the total household earnings to be understood clearly and future expenses to be planned more effectively.
The app being used by clients across all genders and age groups
The App’s content started sparking conversations at home. Families watched the videos together, discussing insurance, pension schemes, and how to use ATMs or UPI safely. Over time, Swadhaar Saathi became more than a learning tool—it became a catalyst for joint decision-making and informed financial planning.
Trainers’ Point of View
Trainers noticed a shift, too. Where earlier they had to repeat basic concepts, now many users arrive with questions after watching videos. The App became a personal revision companion, freeing up trainers to go deeper into financial goals, digital confidence, and long-term planning.
Swadhaar Trainer engaging the people in a finance game and explaining the app usage
For Rekha, one of the field trainers, the change is deeply personal. She remembers a client who started small, just entering daily expenses into the App. Over time, those tiny savings added up. With growing confidence, the woman opened a recurring deposit in the name of her two daughters. A year later, she turned it into a fixed deposit. “She had never imagined planning for her children’s future like this,” Rekha recalls with pride.
Another trainer noticed a shift not just in her clients, but in her role. Where earlier she had to repeat the basics, now the App had done the heavy lifting. “They come prepared,” she says. “They’ve watched the videos, and they ask better questions. Some have even learned to use ATMs and digital banking on their own.”
A woman from a village pilot group summed it up best: “We didn’t know much about saving before. But this App taught us to set a little aside each day. That small amount becomes a big help later.”
Swadhaar Trainer answering finance-related questions which the clients had after watching explainer videos on the app
Setbacks and Learnings
In rural Jharkhand, the App was met with surprising enthusiasm. Despite the patchy internet, people embraced it. One of them shared how they formed a group of neighbours to watch the videos together. What began as a digital solution transformed into a community space for learning and sharing.
Of course, the journey hasn’t been without hiccups. Some women forget to open the App after a few weeks. Others run out of phone space or struggle with passwords. For older users, digital fatigue is real. Trainers have suggested gamified features, small rewards, and interactive nudges to improve retention and enjoyment.
Way Forward
Now, Swadhaar is building the next layer of this journey—introducing voice assistance, payment notifications for bills and loans, hyper-localised videos, and progress badges. The aim is to turn Saathi into a habit, not just an app. Amrita believes that when the App is used regularly, it doesn’t just track money—it transforms mindsets.
A Client, using the app, manages her finances more effectively
This isn’t a story of overnight change. It’s the kind that grows quietly, day by day. A woman who saves ₹10 today. A father who teaches her daughter about digital safety. A group that watches a financial literacy video in the shade of a neem tree. Together, they are shaping a new kind of economy—one powered by awareness, control, and choice.
