Respect your money earned, film star and mother Jenelia Deshmukh tells women folks

Hyderabad, September 29, 2019: Respect the money that you earned. It is not easy to earn money. We struggle a lot. We sacrifice a lot. So women must not only know how to manage their hard-earned money, they must also take charge of it says veteran filmstar and model Genelia Deshmukh, while participating in a panel discussion on Financial Literacy for Women organised by Million Moms, an initiative to keep mothers healthy, fit and financially independent.

Besides the husband in the family, if the wife is also Financially literate, it will be collective wisdom. Two minds are better than one. So that the family can wisely invest. Whatever I earned as an actress, I have invested very smartly. Now that I stopped working for the past eight years, I am reaping the rich benefits of my investments. My parents taught to handle finances and my husband also respects, she said while debating on the subject at the Panel Discussion held on Sunday night here in the city at Madhapur.

The event saw many luminaries from the film world: Kalathapasvi K. Vishwanath, Parchuri Gopalakrishna, Krishna Vamshi, Pragathi, Uttej, Bharani and many others.

Financial Literacy is equally important both for a man and a woman observed S.K. Joshi, Chief Secretary of Govt of Telangana. Financial literacy must be taught as a subject from school level, he said and added that government schemes are always focused at women. In my house, my finances are handled by my wife. Though she sacrificed her career from my sake, she takes care and manages home finances well. My daughter is a financial literate, informed SK. Joshi while participating in the panel discussion moderated by Prema Malini.

I won’t agree that women can’t manage finances. If given an opportunity they can manage well. He reminded that heads of many banks were women. Women can reach the position of Chief Secretary. Some women have achieved that distinction. But, they need to double up their work as they have both responsibilities of managing home and career, he said.

I used to give my entire salary to my husband and my mother in law at the beginning of my career. But, out of curiosity to know the subject I started handling finances shared Kalpana Behara, Head of Digitisation, Program Management at UBER. It is not right to say that women can't handle finances. It is our mindset. If given a chance they will prove much better, she shared. Managing family finances is a joint and collaborative effort of both wife and husband. If they management finances jointly, it will be wiser, she said. Replying to question, she said, Uber has already come out with women drivers.

Husband may not be an expert in managing finances. So wife must also be financial literate. Financial Literacy must be taught from school level, particularly to girl students. They must be told to open bank accounts. Financial Literacy is not gender-specific and depends on the interest of the individual said Nalla Mamarata Reddy, an advertising professional.

Today both wife and husband are becoming bread earners for the family. They both have to be the custodians of the family earnings. It has to be a joint effort summed up Prema Malini, who moderated the panel discussion.

Earlier welcoming the 300 plus gathering, Dr Mani Pavitra, Founder of Million Moms initiative said this year focus would be the Financial Literacy for the women. Until now we focused on their health, fitness. The mother who sacrifices her life, career for the family is not getting the respect she deserved. We should reverse that. Women need to be Financial Literate. While women lead in all fronts, but, why should they lag in one area, i.e the Financial Planning, she asked. We have planned this Panel Discussion as an effort to close the financial literacy gap women have, added Mani Pavitra.

Anchor and Actor, Jhansi staged "Purushasooktham" a Telugu Play at Million Moms event held at Poorna Konvention Centre at Madhapur.

The program began with a power-packed play Purushasooktham starring Anchor Jhansi and Vamsee Chaganti. The play showcased Toxic Masculinity & Toxic feminity which is deep-rooted in social conditioning. It is written, directed and staged by award-winning Anchor & Actor JHANSI.

PURUSHA SOOKTAM was structured as a two-character plot, which took a look into core emotional issues between genders with the hope to start a nuanced discussion on masculinity and raise pertinent questions. The play spoke of the masculine and feminine energies and the importance of harmony between them. Purusha Sooktam challenged toxic masculinity by asking: Can we unlearn gender roles? And if we do, what happens? This KATHANIKA Production starred acclaimed artistes Vamsee Ch as The Man and Anchor Jhansi as The Woman. This was also Jhansi’s first time donning the directorial hat.

Dr Mani Pavitra added that mostly in the middle class and sometimes even in the higher classes too, Women often don't know anything of real value about their own finances. They simply manage the money that is handed to them to take care of regular household expenses, clothes, and more. As long as they are not financially secure, they will be discriminated in various aspects. We at *Million Moms* are working on raising awareness and opening a conversation on “Why do women need to be financially independent and how important is Financial Literacy to them!”

Women made fast strides in many areas and specialization. They occupied every prime social and professional position. But they are still naive at managing their finances. If they want to learn how to cook, manage pregnancy, raise a baby, drive there are self-help books and online resources are there. But, that is not true in the case of managing finances. There are no quick fix formulas and solution. Learning is neither easy or quick. Becoming financially literate should certainly be one of the tasks on our “to do” list of many women stated Dr Mani Pavitra.

It is our mission to empower women with Financial, Emotional and Physical Health, Dr Mani Pavitra, Orthodontist, childbirth educator, life coach, social activist, writer & serial entrepreneur/

For years now, Million Moms has been engaging women in the city of Hyderabad and beyond to build mothers’ health, wealth and happiness. This September, we bring you an intriguing, empowering and enlightening evening in the form of our Annual Fundraiser, Dr Mani Pavitra adds.