Unveiling the Role of Financial Education in Strengthening Financial Decision-Making among Salaried women in Himachal Pradesh

Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 30 salaried women from healthcare, education, and banking in Himachal Pradesh, this study examines financial education initiatives and the extent to which they deliver gains in knowledge, shifts in behaviour, and participant satisfaction. After attending the programmes, respondents reported a clearer grasp of everyday money tasks budgeting, routine saving, and debt/EMI management. Two recurring constraints, however, limited use in daily life: thin local access to suitable financial services and short, compressed course formats that left little room for practice, feedback, and follow-up. Overall satisfaction was high, but participants asked for content tailored to salaried women’s realities, payroll cycles and workplace benefits, caregiving responsibilities, and product choices matched to income levels. The evidence highlights the importance of accessible, locally adapted provision and points to practical refinements, greater customisation and longer or spaced delivery to deepen impact. These insights can guide future initiatives that seek to strengthen the financial empowerment of salaried women in Himachal Pradesh and comparable settings.