Nagpur: Rahul Kelapure, assistant general manager (AGM-investor awareness department), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Mumbai, has supported over 10,000 individuals, including numerous persons with disabilities, to cultivate financial acumen and make prudent investments as part of his investor awareness initiative.
Hailing from Tadoba Road in Chandrapur district, the land of tigers, Kelapure suffers from 100% visual impairment.
He faced challenges early in life due to lack of access to earning and hearing software. He depended on human assistance to complete his primary education and subsequently earned law and MBA (finance) qualifications before joining SEBI as a legal officer in 2011 through competitive examination.
Subsequently, this distinguished scholar and gold medallist embarked upon spreading financial and gold medallist embarked upon spreading financial literacy among the masses while providing tailored guidance to disabled persons.
"Despite many disabled persons achieving education and independence, they lack investment confidence and expertise. Additionally, I educate individuals supporting disabled relatives who wish to secure their future beyond their lifetime," he said.
Kelapure will join the SEBI panel including CGM Sanjay Purav, GM Vijayant Kumar Varma and GM Yogita Yadav to discourse on ‘How to be a smart investor' at the Advantag Vidarbha 2025 on Sunday at the Nagpur University campus.
During interaction at the SEBI stall in the business conclave, Kelapure noticed inadequate investor awareness. Even well-educated individuals forfeit their hard-earned money to ponzi schemes. Hence, I resolved to contribute to society, making investor awareness my passion," he said.
Kelapure emphasised that financial literacy remains particularly low among the disabled population. Typically, a family member manages their finances. While disabled persons have adapted to smartphones, they remain unfamiliar with financial management," he said.
He has conducted numerous workshops for the general public, while sessions for handicapped individuals have been requirement-based.
"While people with disabilities ack investment knowledge, market participants often dismiss them. Not everyone understands approaching RBI or SEBI. Both participants and investors require sensitisation for disability inclusion," he said.
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