We have always been wondering whether our work reaches beyond our bubble? We got an answer to that a year ago when the government gave us the ultimate ‘shut up’ award: FCRA cancellation! Because, you know, transparency must be threatening someoneās nap time. But since silence isnāt in our style guide, we just switched to yelling louder from the rooftops!
Eight years ago, a small newsletter called Finance Matters was launched with a simple idea: to demystify finance, empower citizens to question āWhereās the money?ā and prove that holding power to account doesnāt require a PhD in boredom. Today, as we celebrate this milestone, weāre still here, doing what weāre supposed toā despite difficulties, uncertainties, and existential dread!
The purpose of Finance Matters, brought to you by the Centre for Financial Accountability, was never to bore you with spreadsheets or bond yields. It was to pull back the curtain on the messy, murky world of money, power, and accountability. To ask the questions others either didnāt want to or were too afraid to. Whoās funding that new infrastructure project? Whatās making public banks and public institutions collapse so spectacularly? And why does the government keep pretending that financial transparency is optional?
Over the years, Finance Matters has tackled everything from corporate cronyism and impacts of demonetisation, non-performing assets of banks, analysing budgets to environmental destruction and displacement of communities funded by public money. It has dissected policies and called out hypocrisy!! Itās the kind of newsletter that makes you both informed and slightly more cynicalāno small feat!
Whether itās tracking dodgy loans, exposing environmental violations, or simply translating complex financial jargon into something that doesnāt put you to sleep, Finance Matters has kept the faith.
So hereās to eight years of asking awkward questions, pissing off the wrong people, and somehow surviving despite all odds. If thatās not a reason to raise a glass (or a well-worn copy of the Union Budget), we donāt know what is.
We could have done things better; we could have done more. Agreed. And that will be what we will be striving for, as we enter the 9th year.
We would not have done any of these without the community of well-wishers, supporters and fellow activists (we draw our inspiration to be crazy & stubborn from them!!). A big thank you to all of them. We are sure they will continue the voyage with us to new destinations and as we explore new adventures!!
Last, but never the least. While the black money in Swiss Bank is going up, our bank accounts are drying up! We could keep the fight going, resist the nefarious designs of the government and expose the corporations with the most potent weapon of all: your pocket change! If you are able to spare some, please donate.
– Joe Athialy
Centre for Financial Accountability
