Light of Life Trust (LOLT), a not-for-profit organisation working to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty, has listed on the BSE Social Stock Exchange (SSE) as part of its efforts to strengthen access to education and create opportunities for children from underserved communities.
As part of the listing, LOLT has undertaken a Zero Coupon Zero Principal (ZCZP) bond issue of ₹1.27 crore to support the education and holistic development of 420 children in Bihar and Jharkhand. The issue comprises ZCZP instruments with a face value of ₹1,000 each, with a minimum application of one instrument and multiples thereof.
The SSE listing gives LOLT a regulated platform to mobilise social-impact funding while allowing individuals, institutions and organisations to contribute towards defined social outcomes.
Speaking on the occasion, Villy Doctor, Founder, Light of Life Trust, said, “Education has the power to change not just an individual life, but the trajectory of an entire family and, over time, an entire community. Our listing on the Social Stock Exchange is an important step in creating a more structured and transparent avenue for people and institutions to participate in this journey.”
She added, “Through the ZCZP issue, we hope to support children who face significant barriers to continuing their education and provide them with the guidance, support and opportunities they need to build a more secure and dignified future.”
The listing also marks a milestone for ERIX Advisors, which advised the issue. CS Payal Gupta, Founder, ERIX Advisors and Advisor to the Issue, said the listing was particularly significant as LOLT became one of the top three organisations to list on the platform.
“For us, the Social Stock Exchange is not just about raising funds; it’s an opportunity for NGOs to enhance transparency, improve their readiness, and tap into a broader network of donors and investors,” Gupta said.
Pushpa Aman Singh, Founder and Director, GuideStar India, and a member of the SEBI-constituted SSE Advisory Committee and BSE’s SSE Governing Council, said LOLT’s voluntary adoption of public disclosure standards could contribute to greater trust in the non-profit sector.
“LOLT’s efforts to voluntarily embrace the highest standards of public disclosure are an important contribution toward enhancing not just its credibility but also an important step toward inspiring trust in India’s NPO sector,” she said.
The Social Stock Exchange framework is intended to strengthen accountability and transparency in social-impact fundraising, allowing organisations to demonstrate the use of funds and the outcomes generated through their programmes.