Madhya Pradesh is set to become the first State to implement SEBI’s national financial literacy mission on a massive scale. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) will roll out its flagship campaign ‘Project Jagrook’ across Madhya Pradesh to protect youth and citizens from fake investment schemes, Ponzi scams and financial fraud. The proposal has received in-principle approval from the State’s Higher Education Department. SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey, who nationally launched Project Jagrook on October 5 from Panjab University, Chandigarh, has written to officiating Chief Secretary Ashok Barnwal with a detailed roadmap. Letters have also been sent to ACS Higher Education Anupam Rajan and ACS Finance Manish Rastogi to fast-track the rollout.

 

The national campaign, themed ‘Samajh Se Investing Simple’, was launched after a SEBI survey found that while 63% of households are aware of securities products, only 9.5% actually invest, with a sharp urban-rural divide. Pandey had cautioned investors against anonymous tips, finfluencers and exaggerated return promises. In Madhya Pradesh, the project will go beyond classrooms. All Government colleges will train students in safe investing and stock market basics. Uniquely, the State will adopt a multi-departmental model involving Higher Education, universities, Skill Development, Women & Child Development, Police and Panchayati Raj departments. Nodal officers will be appointed in each Department. In a first-of-its-kind move, special training sessions will also be organised for police personnel, field staff of WCD and other Government employees so they can act as financial literacy ambassadors in their communities. With administrative clearance in place, the State Government will now prepare a detailed action plan for ground-lev