Comments for Microfinance India Blog http://blog.microfinanceindia.org Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:50:07 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 Comment on Bandhan, Vijay Mahajan given Microfinance India Awards by delta http://blog.microfinanceindia.org/?p=58&cpage=1#comment-101 delta Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:50:07 +0000 http://blog.microfinanceindia.org/?p=58#comment-101 Bandhan works not only in west bengal but in 14 states accross the country with more than 2 million clients. Please visit www.Bandhanmf.com for more details. Bandhan works not only in west bengal but in 14 states accross the country with more than 2 million clients. Please visit http://www.Bandhanmf.com for more details.

]]> Comment on Commercialization is necessary for microfinance : Bandhan chief by Swagatam Sinha http://blog.microfinanceindia.org/?p=40&cpage=1#comment-65 Swagatam Sinha Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:49:39 +0000 http://blog.microfinanceindia.org/?p=40#comment-65 I agree with your view on scaling up and commercialization, but if PE investors and other private parties are allowed to own large stakes in microfinance institutes, and thus are allowed to control their activities, what can just one person(i.e, the leader) do? Keeping this in view, should the government frame policies to prevent such investments, even if commercialization is risked? I agree with your view on scaling up and commercialization, but if PE investors and other private parties are allowed to own large stakes in microfinance institutes, and thus are allowed to control their activities, what can just one person(i.e, the leader) do? Keeping this in view, should the government frame policies to prevent such investments, even if commercialization is risked?

]]> Comment on Microfinance India Summit 2009 by om prakash chaturvedi http://blog.microfinanceindia.org/?p=5&cpage=1#comment-43 om prakash chaturvedi Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:24:05 +0000 http://blog.microfinanceindia.org/?p=5#comment-43 microfinance india summit is a great initiative to take the NGOs, MFIs, Private sector , public sector (Govt.) in a common platform. i have observed during three days (26th to 28th oct 2009) that each session was not in position to conclude the session i means concesnese on topic. there were need to more participation of deligates on topics with penalist and moderator. some question has been still not solved like that why the penalist felt the need of deffient institution for microfinance? why the rural economy are not revitalising? how the NABARD, SIDBI, ICICI, Govt. should revitalise the rural economy while the money are mostly has been dumpped by apex institutions. i found that some decission on different topics has been taken by penalist are required to take the attention of indian govt. and also at international level because most of the forign company are seeing india as a investment place. thanks microfinance india summit is a great initiative to take the NGOs, MFIs, Private sector , public sector (Govt.) in a common platform. i have observed during three days (26th to 28th oct 2009) that each session was not in position to conclude the session i means concesnese on topic. there were need to more participation of deligates on topics with penalist and moderator. some question has been still not solved like that why the penalist felt the need of deffient institution for microfinance? why the rural economy are not revitalising? how the NABARD, SIDBI, ICICI, Govt. should revitalise the rural economy while the money are mostly has been dumpped by apex institutions. i found that some decission on different topics has been taken by penalist are required to take the attention of indian govt. and also at international level because most of the forign company are seeing india as a investment place. thanks

]]> Comment on Savings– the hot topic by S. Santhanam http://blog.microfinanceindia.org/?p=35&cpage=1#comment-42 S. Santhanam Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:57:49 +0000 http://blog.microfinanceindia.org/?p=35#comment-42 Yes. It is very much essential to recognise savings as an important element of mF. More often, mF discussions stop with just providing loans and mechanisms to deliver them to the clients- through group mode, individual mode, whether to adopt legacy system or use technology etc. But, very little attention is given for savings. It is necessary to recognise that the poor can also save. For them, it is thrift- the expenditure foregone and not any surplus from supporting IGAs. This was demonostrated very effectively by the SHG Bank Linkage Programme. But, more often , we hear discussions on mF of Grameen and its avatars. I suggest that the next Access mF summit-2010 should take 'savings' as its theme and take it forward. Yes. It is very much essential to recognise savings as an important element of mF. More often, mF discussions stop with just providing loans and mechanisms to deliver them to the clients- through group mode, individual mode, whether to adopt legacy system or use technology etc. But, very little attention is given for savings. It is necessary to recognise that the poor can also save. For them, it is thrift- the expenditure foregone and not any surplus from supporting IGAs. This was demonostrated very effectively by the SHG Bank Linkage Programme. But, more often , we hear discussions on mF of Grameen and its avatars. I suggest that the next Access mF summit-2010 should take ’savings’ as its theme and take it forward.

]]> Comment on Financial Inclusion: Microfinance to Mainstream by S. Santhanam http://blog.microfinanceindia.org/?p=7&cpage=1#comment-41 S. Santhanam Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:50:10 +0000 http://blog.microfinanceindia.org/?p=7#comment-41 Some advocate minimalist approach, and some inclusive approach. Any approach to succeed, one will have to take into account certain internal and external factors. Availing mF should not be linked to a condition such as sending the children to school. In some areas, education may be a priority and in another area, basic amenities such as housing, toilets, roads and others may be more needed. So, mF through a group mode and leaving the decision on finance and non-finance matters to the group concerned will be most sustainable. Some advocate minimalist approach, and some inclusive approach. Any approach to succeed, one will have to take into account certain internal and external factors. Availing mF should not be linked to a condition such as sending the children to school. In some areas, education may be a priority and in another area, basic amenities such as housing, toilets, roads and others may be more needed. So, mF through a group mode and leaving the decision on finance and non-finance matters to the group concerned will be most sustainable.

]]> Comment on Savings– the hot topic by Vasishta Dasika http://blog.microfinanceindia.org/?p=35&cpage=1#comment-39 Vasishta Dasika Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:54:32 +0000 http://blog.microfinanceindia.org/?p=35#comment-39 And sadly the fact of the matter is - the three day summit only discussed the importance of savings as if it was news to us. The conspicuous absence of RBI and or any other suitable representative of the Government reassured that the "system" has a vested interest in ensuring that the poor always stay poor! - this is good news to PE investors looking at this sector. And sadly the fact of the matter is – the three day summit only discussed the importance of savings as if it was news to us. The conspicuous absence of RBI and or any other suitable representative of the Government reassured that the “system” has a vested interest in ensuring that the poor always stay poor! – this is good news to PE investors looking at this sector.

]]> Comment on Microfinance 2.0: Next Move? by Kalyani Iyer http://blog.microfinanceindia.org/?p=32&cpage=1#comment-37 Kalyani Iyer Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:39:54 +0000 http://blog.microfinanceindia.org/?p=32#comment-37 I have to agree with Neerja that the next steps for Indian MFIs are challenging and interesting at the same time. It's amazing to note that all sorts of new socially-oriented and environmentally friendly technologies are entering this space and that MFIs are in a good position to leverage their existing networks to help channel such products to the low-income segment. The MF India Summit certainly shed light on a number of these issues and hopefully, the event will push many more MFIs to consider such products closely as they think about next steps for their clients. I have to agree with Neerja that the next steps for Indian MFIs are challenging and interesting at the same time. It’s amazing to note that all sorts of new socially-oriented and environmentally friendly technologies are entering this space and that MFIs are in a good position to leverage their existing networks to help channel such products to the low-income segment.

The MF India Summit certainly shed light on a number of these issues and hopefully, the event will push many more MFIs to consider such products closely as they think about next steps for their clients.

]]> Comment on Microfinance and Education- A win-win partnership by neerja.raman http://blog.microfinanceindia.org/?p=22&cpage=1#comment-16 neerja.raman Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:52:40 +0000 http://blog.microfinanceindia.org/?p=22#comment-16 The details of the business model and participants were provided at the conclusion of the Global Social Benefit Incubator at Santa Clara University. http://www.scu.edu/sts/gsbi/index.cfm. Their focus is scale. Check - Class of 2008- has an outfits in India- http://www.scu.edu/sts/gsbi/socialentrepreneurs_2008.cfm. Social Impact is another partner to check out. I also write on my blog and it has links that may be of interest. Creation of metrics like a social rating index (social + financial) help foster and create "blended value". The details of the business model and participants were provided at the conclusion of the Global Social Benefit Incubator at Santa Clara University. http://www.scu.edu/sts/gsbi/index.cfm. Their focus is scale. Check – Class of 2008- has an outfits in India- http://www.scu.edu/sts/gsbi/socialentrepreneurs_2008.cfm. Social Impact is another partner to check out. I also write on my blog and it has links that may be of interest. Creation of metrics like a social rating index (social + financial) help foster and create “blended value”.

]]> Comment on Microfinance and Education- A win-win partnership by Rajiv http://blog.microfinanceindia.org/?p=22&cpage=1#comment-15 Rajiv Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:08:28 +0000 http://blog.microfinanceindia.org/?p=22#comment-15 Hi Neerja, Great writeup. Would you have any links that point to the actual business model you heard? I was wondering if there was any information out there that outlines the model more from an actionable standpoint than conceptual (in the Indian context), assuming of course that this is already in practice. Hi Neerja,

Great writeup. Would you have any links that point to the actual business model you heard? I was wondering if there was any information out there that outlines the model more from an actionable standpoint than conceptual (in the Indian context), assuming of course that this is already in practice.

]]> Comment on Microfinance India Summit 2009 by Moloy Bora http://blog.microfinanceindia.org/?p=5&cpage=1#comment-14 Moloy Bora Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:52:08 +0000 http://blog.microfinanceindia.org/?p=5#comment-14 This is a good initiative . Many MFIs are in the Rural India specially in North East India . Would you make the event more participative by advts in local /regional newspapers ? This is a good initiative . Many MFIs are in the Rural India specially in North East India . Would you make the event more participative by advts in local /regional newspapers ?

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