Pre-Conference Workshop on 'Micro Finance for Macro Development'

 

SDMIMD had organised a one-day Pre-Conference Workshop on ‘Micro Finance for Macro Development’ on November 22, 2018. This was a part of 4th International Conference on Economic Growth and Sustainable Development. 
 

Mr. Udaya Kumar, MD & CEO, Grameen Financial Services inaugurated the workshop and delivered the keynote talk. He said that “India still has a large population that belongs to the bottom of the pyramid and inclusion does not mean having a bank account, but it has more to do with a wide range of financial services and security such as insurance, health care, education, it is beyond that. Microfinance industry is indispensable for a country like India because it caters to a large set of people who are at the bottom of the pyramid. This industry is aiding the economic growth of the Nation by catering to a humongous population that is unserved or unserved”.  

 

Dr. N.R. Parasuraman, Director, SDMIMD, presided over the inaugural session and emphasised the need for result oriented research on various verticals of microfinance. 
 

Mr. V.N. Salimath, Chairman, Initiatives for Development Foundation (IDF) delivered a session on 'BC Model of Micro Financing & its Sustainability'. He also spoke about farmer vulnerabilities and the functioning of Farmer Producer Company (FPC). 
 

Dr.S.N.Prasad, Professor-SDMIMD Mysore discussed the various dimensions of the ground level issues associated with the functioning of microfinance in Indian context.  
 

Dr. Annapurna Neti, Faculty, Azim Premji University delivered lecture on the “State of Microinsurance in India”.  She emphasised on the need for good predictability of the income and insulate against the risk through insurance accordingly. 
 

The workshop did deliberate on “Nexus between Micro Credit and Sustainability: Unravelling the Research Perspectives” through a panel discussion. The consisted of: Mr. William D’ Souza, Vice-Chairman, Sanghamithra Rural Financial Services, Dr. R. Indira, President, Indian Sociological Society, and Dr. N.R. Parasuraman, Director, SDMIMD, Mysore. The panel was moderated by Dr. M.R. Suresh Professor-Marketing, SDMIMD, Mysore. The discussions led to unveiling of the areas of research requirements. It was felt that financial, social, institutional, and economic perspectives of microfinance need rigorous research to facilitate MFIs’ decision making and government’s policy making.   
 

The workshop was coordinated by Dr.B.Venkatraja, Conference Chairperson