Avanse Financial Services Ltd. (Avanse), India's second-largest education-focused non-banking financial company (NBFC), has launched the #StartYourStory campaign. This digital marketing and social media initiative aims to inspire and empower female higher education aspirants, particularly those seeking to study abroad. At the core of the campaign is ‘Swalaksh’, an exclusive education loan product designed specifically for female students pursuing higher education overseas.
The Swalaksh loan offers a range of benefits, including:
- A rate concession of 0.25% for all female students aspiring to study abroad
- A flat INR 10,000 processing fee for female aspirants
- A benefit of INR 10,000 for female students with an academic score above 80%
- Additional INR 10,000 for students achieving a CGPA of 3.5 or higher at the end of their course
- Waiver of the last 12 Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs) in the repayment structure
The #StartYourStory campaign was launched across social media platforms, with vibrant storytelling that underscores new beginnings and the power of financial freedom. The aim is to encourage more female students to take charge of their academic journey and make their dreams a reality. Avanse has also partnered with study-abroad influencers to raise awareness and engage potential applicants.
"At Avanse, we firmly believe that education is one of the most powerful tools for empowerment," said Mr. Amit Gainda, Managing Director and CEO of Avanse Financial Services. "This product offering reinforces our commitment to empowering female students to fulfil their higher education dreams."
He continued, “India has taken significant steps to promote gender parity in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields. I believe that with the help of this product, we will be able to fund more aspiring women to pursue STEM courses, allowing us to foster an inclusive and progressive future. The government of India is extremely focused on creating avenues for women to grow and contribute towards the development of the nation. The President of our country also emphasised the need to encourage women to pursue higher education to achieve India’s goal of becoming the most developed nation by 2047. Aligned with this sentiment, we believe that it is also our responsibility to create opportunities for more women to take the leap of faith towards fulfilling their higher education aspirations and, thus, contribute towards nation-building.”
As of 31 March 2024, approximately 30% of the total students funded by Avanse were women, and the company is aiming to further increase this percentage. This initiative further reinforces Avanse’s belief in the transformative power of education and its commitment to supporting female students in achieving their academic aspirations.
