Dulloo Inaugurates Financial Literacy Week 2026 for J&K, Ladakh
Jammu : Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo Monday inaugurated the Financial Literacy Week (FLW) 2026 for the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The week-long programme is being organised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) from February 09 to February 13, 2026, with a focus on strengthening financial awareness and safe banking practices among citizens. The event was also attended by Rachna Sharma, Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department; Vidhu Shekhar, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu; Deepak Dubey, Joint Director Information, Jammu; Vikas Mittal, GM/O-i-C, NABARD, Jammu; Sunit Kumar, CGM, J&K Bank; controlling heads of banks; and officers and representatives from Government departments, RBI, banks, financial institutions and UTLBC J&K and Ladakh.
Addressing bankers and stakeholders on the occasion Chief Secretary emphasized the significance of financial inclusion as a reflection of the Gandhian principle of “Sarvodaya through Antyodaya,” highlighting its role as both a policy objective and a collective responsibility. He noted that nearly seven of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are directly related to financial access and empowerment. During a recent three-month financial inclusion campaign from July to October 2025, the government collaborated with banking institutions to enhance access to various Government of India schemes at the Panchayat level. This initiative led to the KYC updation of approximately 5.9 lakh accounts, achieving about 51 percent of the targeted accounts. The Chief Secretary acknowledged the collaborative efforts of institutions such as RBI, NABARD, SEBI, and PFRDA in promoting financial awareness among citizens. He also mentioned the integration of financial literacy into the JKBOSE curriculum, alongside livelihood training and skill development programs. The theme for this year, “KYC – Your First Step to Safe Banking,” underscores the importance of adopting a Centralised KYC mechanism to simplify financial transactions and enhance security against fraud. The Chief Secretary linked the vision of Viksit Bharat and sustainable development to comprehensive financial inclusion, advocating for grassroots outreach through Common Service Centres (CSCs) and Self Help Groups (SHGs) to boost community-level financial awareness. Chandrashekhar Azad, Regional Director of RBI Jammu, highlighted last year’s nationwide campaign aimed at saturating Financial Inclusion schemes and ensuring re-KYC for eligible account holders. The current campaign, FLW 2026, focuses on educating the public about KYC compliance, emphasizing its simplicity and the availability of multiple safe modes for completion. It also aims to raise awareness about the risks of fraudulent communications related to KYC updates. Throughout the week, RBI, in collaboration with banks and stakeholders, will conduct awareness programs and outreach activities across the country, including Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. These initiatives are designed to reinforce the message that KYC is essential for building a secure and trustworthy financial ecosystem, transcending its role as a mere regulatory requirement.
