MICROFINANCE BILL
Regulating small loans
The Microfinance will empower RBI to oversee small lenders as well, taking MFIs outside the jurisdiction of state-level laws, and bringing them under federal regulation.
Legislation
June 2012

MICROCREDIT MELTDOWN
Living with 'installments'
Many micro-credit loans do no more than allow a family to juggle its finances for a month-to-month existance. As investors embrace this 'market', MFIs are increasingly under scrutiny.
December 2010

WOMEN
Adivasi women turn turmeric traders
In this small sleepy Orissa village with a population of barely 400 adivasis, there is something remarkable about the women.
Adivasis | Orissa
August 2007

PRS LEGISLATIVE BRIEF
Microfinance Bill
The draft bill comes at a time when there are differing opinions on the cost efficacy of the MFO model for reaching credit to the poor.
Legislation
June 2007

BANKING FOR THE POOR
Micro credit gathers force
There is now mounting hope that micro finance can be a large scale poverty alleviation tool. Banks too are shedding their old reluctance to lend to the poor.
November 2005

ORIYA MIGRANTS
Money talks, ... and walks
Adhikar's financial instruments for migrants are freeing them from exploitation and poverty, and may offer a model for other development efforts.
Orissa
March 2004

Rescuing the coconut economy
A community-based microcredit programme attempts to revive the economy of coastal Kerala's villages.
Kerala
December 2003

Urban poverty alleviation : Conclusion
India needs an Apex Bank for Urban Development (ABUD) urgently to address many issues of complexity in urban microcredit.
Part IV : An apex bank for urban microcredit
Part III : Urban microcredit : The current scenario
Part II : Access to money for the urban poor
Part I : Tackling urban poverty
Livelihoods
November 2003

Micro credit, Macro hype
The Self-Help Group is now a fixture in the lives of rural women, allegedly formed to empower them. But if the objective is poverty 'alleviation' rather than its elimination, microcredit may at best provide micro solutions. Microenterprise development cannot be a substitute for meaningful social development.
October 2002

You can bank on it
Pritha Sen on how a group of asset-less Marathi women have created the Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank.
September 2002

E-marketers of South India
A Chennai NGO is creating employment and supporting artisans
September 2002

Good things come in small packages.
Microcredit makes a little credit go a long way.