With Indian equity markets staying volatile till date, with benchmark indices shedding over 25% from its peak and retail investors staying away from the market, various market intermediaries such as Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi) have stepped up their investor education drive.

These entities have started conducting a series of investor-depositors meets (IDM) and investor education programme in the rural and semi-urban areas of the country, to make them aware of market intricacies. Not only, the BSE and NSE, but also National Securities Depository, (NSDL) and Central Depository Services Limited (CDSL) are conducting IDMs to spread awareness about the depository processes and about the safety and benefits of depository system.

AP Kurian, chairman of Amfi said, ?Amfi has always been promoting investor education for the benefit of the people, who invests in mutual funds (MFs). Several programmes in the past have been organised with many fund houses across the country to promote the MFs.? He further said, ?I think that investor education plays important part for any intermediaries to promote their product and it is a continuous process. We have been receiving sparkling response from the people regarding the Mutual Funds.?

Amfi is going to conduct investor education programs in Mysore and Kerela during the month. While NSDL, the country?s largest depository, had recently concluded a series of IDMs in Mumbai in June and is planning several programmes in August too.

CDSL is also organising seminars at various places in the country. In the month of August they are going to organise IDMs at Belgaum, Gwalior, Chandigarh and Mohali.

Officials from CDSL said, ?These seminars aim at spreading awareness about the depository processes and about the safety and benefits of depository system. These seminars will provide an opportunity to the investors to interact directly with CDSL as well as its depository participants (DPs). Investors queries on demat, suggestions and feedback will be solicited.?