Dipesh Poudel

April 18: Rajan Jaiswal bought two piggy banks from Chandranigahapur market last Friday.

He said that he bought two piggy banks made of clay, one for himself and the other for his sister. Rajan, who is studying in class 8 at Janajyoti Secondary School, has been saving Rs 10 to Rs 100 daily in the piggy bank. With the money saved, he plans to buy sports equipment.

“I just bought a piggy bank from the market. My sister also saves money in her piggy bank and uses the saved money to buy stationary,” he said. His sister Nandani has been saving the change money given by her parents.

The children save some of the money given by their parents for lunch in their piggy banks. There is a great attraction of young students studying in private and government schools towards the piggy bank savings.

Prince Mishra, who is studying in the same school, said that he also saves the money given by his parents for lunch. He said that he uses the money saved to buy stationery and sports equipment. Only a few months ago, he bought a bicycle using savings from his piggy bank.

Parents are also happy with their children’s habit of saving money. Basanti Jaiswal, a parent from Chandranigahapur said that her son deposits money left after having lunch in piggy bank after returning from school. She said, “My son has developed a habit of saving money in a piggy bank. He uses the saved money to buy stationery and sports equipment. It has been financially easier for us since we have to pay the monthly fees only.”

Aradhya Poudel, who is studying in class 2, says that she also started saving money in a piggy bank after seeing all her friends save money. At present, more than a dozen students of private and government schools in Chandranigahapur save money in piggy bank.

Madhu Poudel, a teacher at the local Janajyoti Secondary School said that the students have developed the habit of saving. He said that parents and teachers should motivate their children to save regularly.

Cooperatives as well as banks have also come up with various schemes to attract children towards piggy bank savings. Bibhu Pokharel, chairman of Sankalpa Savings and Cooperative said that children who save in the piggy bank savings are given gifts on their birthdays. He said that the children's access to the bank will gradually progress from the piggy bank saving scheme and their habit of saving will further develop.