Chintan Baithak - 2 on Microfinance

16 December 2019

Centre for Research on Financial Inclusion and Microfinance (CRFIM)

Bankers Institute of Rural Development (BIRD), Lucknow

A consultative meet styled as Chintan Baithak on “Future of Microfinance in India –

Challenges and Strategies” was organized by CRFIM, BIRD on 16 December 2019 at

BIRD, Lucknow.

Smt. TS Raji Gain, Director, BIRD welcomed the participants and highlighted the

objectives and challenges facing the MSMEs and POs. Director shared her knowledge

and expertise in the area and exhorted the participants to take the micro finance

movement to new higher levels to sustain the MSMEs and collectivisation of SHGs /

JLGs / Federations into POs resulting in holistic development of the sector. She also

apprised the participants about NABARD’s initiatives under these activities.

The Chintan Baithak was graced by Shri S.V. Sardesai, Principal, NBSC, Shri Mithilesh

Kumar, GM, MCID, NABARD, Head Office, Shri T.Venkatakrishna, MD & CEO,

Nabkisan Finance Ltd. and Sh. SK Dora, Vice-Principal, NBSC, Lucknow. The

panelists included Shri S. B. Singh, Chairman, Aryavart Bank, Shri Vara Prasad

Chaganti, Business Head, Induslnd Bank, Shri Madhudeep Rai, Vice President &

Circle Head, Axis Bank Ltd, Dr. N. Jeyaseelan, Group CEO, Hand in Hand, M.

Purushothaman, Secretary, Mannarkkad Rural Service Cooperative Bank Ltd., Dr.

Rajnikant Diwedi, Director, Human Welfare Association, Varanasi, Ms. Bharati Joshi,

MD & CEO, Indian Grameen Services, Shri K.S. Yadav, State Program Director,

RGMVP, Raebareli. The Baithak was attended by senior level officers of banks, MFIs

and SFBs and NGOs and FMs of NBSC and BIRD.

The two themes of the Chintan Baithak were:

(i) Sustaining MSMEs through Microfinance

(ii) Graduation of SHGs/JLGs Federations to Producers

Organisations/Collectives

The Chintan Baithak was initiated with presentation of lead papers on the above

themes followed by Panel discussions. Paper on first theme was presented by Ms.

Deepmala Ghosh, DGM/FM, BIRD followed by Panel discussion chaired by Sh. SV

Sardesai, Principal, NBSC, Lucknow. Paper on second theme was presented by Dr.

SKK Mishra, DGM/FM, BIRD followed by Panel discussion chaired by Sh. Mithilesh

Kumar, GM, MCID, NABARD, HO, Mumbai. The deliberations were summed up by

Sh. MR Gopal, DGM/FM, BIRD. Sh. Mukesh Vats, Joint Director, proposed the ‘vote

of thanks’.

Director, BIRD lighting the lamp.

Panel I members along Director, BIRD

Panel II members along with Director, BIRD

Proceedings underway…

Delegates in the Chintan Baithak

Inaugural remarks by Joint Director, BIRD

Principal, NBSC, Lucknow chairing Panel I

Sh. Mithilesh Kumar, GM, MCID HO chairing the Panel II

FPO representative sharing his experiences

Sh. MR Gopal, DGM/FM summing up the proceedings