SKS has shut down branches in Andhra Pradesh and according to Times of India article, “1200 people will lose jobs”- apart from millions of clients losing their credit source. My intention is not to argue on behalf of SKS by … Read More
Funding to the Microfinance Sector: Review of Options
The Indian microfinance sector has seen a series of rapid changes in the past decade. The sector grew rapidly in the period 2004-2009, with an average increase in number of clients year-on-year being 91%, while size of portfolio outstanding grew … Read More
Involving Students in Social Science Experiments
The development sector in India has been a vibrant scene – many private and public institutions are engaged in efforts to raise the living standards of the rural poor. From non-profit organizations offering financial services to for-profit social enterprises, India … Read More
How are Farmers Insured? Thoughts for the Next Time you Purchase Rice
“Do you want rice that is 40Rs/KL, 50Rs/KL, or 60Rs/KL?” A relatively simple question that we, as consumers, face when purchasing rice at a local store. But have we considered how the farmer decides which variety of rice to … Read More
A Better Harvest for Indian Farmers – Just a Phone Call Away?
A new CMF study explores the potential of a new mobile agricultural extension service to improve farming techniques. The Indian government has willingly implemented agricultural demonstrations as a method to develop farming knowledge and techniques. It spent $60 million … Read More
India’s New Poverty Numbers
The Planning Commission has released new poverty estimates for the country, showing that the percentage of people living below the poverty line poor fell from from 37% to 29.8% from 2004-2005 to 2009-2010. According to the Commission, the fall is … Read More
Why Index-Based Insurance Could Work
A post by NYU researcher Jonathan Bauchet on the CGAP Microfinance Blog discusses some of the reasons behind the low takeup of microinsurance products. Bauchet mentions results from CMF’s randomized controlled trial study of an index-based weather insurance product in … Read More
The Great AP Microfinance Catharsis
This weekend was one of complete catharsis for me. The Indian microfinance sector, as is well known now, has gone through a roller coaster over the course of the last year and a half—one of emotion, accusations, and frustration. For … Read More
Are the RBI’s Financial Inclusion Policies too Conservative?
A recent article in The Economist discusses the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s record over the last ten to fifteen years. In general, the magazine takes a favourable view of the central bank’s performance, citing its success in maintaining macroeconomic … Read More
Who will Pay for Financial Literacy?
As we meander through the thatched mud-stained and brick houses in Uttar Pradesh, our team asks a curious group of smiling clients – “What did you learn at the training session?” or “Does it help when our team reminds you … Read More