Puducherry: The Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday conducted a financial awareness programme at Pondicherry University, focusing on the RBI Ombudsman Scheme and digital safety in banking.

The event was jointly organised by the Office of the Dean of Students' Welfare and the School of Management, in association with Axis Bank.

Prof Y Venkata Rao, Dean of Students' Welfare, inaugurated the session, stressing the need for financial literacy among youth. Mr Vincent from Axis Bank introduced the theme of the programme and set the context for the deliberations.

Addressing the gathering, Prof K Tharanikkarasu, Director of Studies, highlighted the increasing relevance of digital banking and the associated risks of online scams and frauds. Prof Clement Lourdes, Director - Culture, also underlined the importance of vigilance in the digital financial ecosystem.

Registrar (in-charge) Prof Rajneesh Bhutani appreciated the initiative and said such programmes were timely, especially for students entering an increasingly digitised economy.

RBI officials including Manager Uma Chugh and Dealing Officer Preethi briefed students on the grievance redressal mechanisms available under the RBI Ombudsman Scheme and demonstrated the use of the RBI Complaint Management Portal. Manager Umamaheswaran elaborated on the common types of banking frauds faced by consumers.

A quiz competition was also conducted to reinforce key learnings, with prizes distributed to winners.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof P Natarajan, Dean of the School of Management, who noted the relevance of financial awareness for students pursuing careers in the banking and corporate sectors.