Blogs

Newsletter Article – Rethinking RBI’s Regulations for MFIs

Deepti KC | July 11, 2012

The Microfinance Institutions Bill has been cleared by the Union Cabinet and introduced to the Lok Sabha. If approved, MFIs would by regulation be required to register with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) … Read More

Newsletter Article – Digital Data Collection – Experiences from Uttar Pradesh

Sitaram Mukherjee, Mudita Tiwari | July 11, 2012

In partnership with FINO, CMF is evaluating a door-to-door step banking services, FINO has a network of Business Correspondents or Bandhus, who open no-frills savings accounts with the Union Bank for the clients.  They operate in areas where formal banking services … Read More

Digital Data Collection vs. Data Collection on Paper

LEAD Research Team | July 9, 2012

While digital data collection is a significant departure from the usual paper and pen data collection method, there are both advantages and disadvantages to each data collection method.  However, digital data collection is a step into the future because it … Read More

Is Microfinance Responsible for Everything?

LEAD Research Team | July 3, 2012

“Profiteers have hijacked the microfinance“; that is what a new book written by Hugh Sinclair alleges. I am not denying that many from this industry are making profit. However, time and again, i am tempted to ask the critics of … Read More

Where do Interventions Come From?

LEAD Research Team | July 2, 2012

I came across a reference to a paper that was written in the 1800s (in Dublin), where the researcher attempted to help the poor in his neighborhood by employing them in spinning linen-yarn. He reflects on some of the limitations … Read More

MBVF and MFI: Similar yet Different?

Gedeon Lim | June 29, 2012

Keen readers of microfinance blogs might recall David Roodman making this postawhile back on a quasi-experimental evaluation of Microcredit provision in Thailand where Kaboski & Townsend used an exogenous policy initiative, the “Million Baht Village Fund (MBVF)”, as a proxy … Read More

Savings Dilemma

Ujjawal | June 28, 2012

We often come across people who say that they are not earning enough to save or do not see how a savings account would help them. More often than not, as laymen we believe the story and even empathise with … Read More

Short-Sighted on Regulation?

LEAD Research Team | June 21, 2012

A look at most news channels and even the financial news channels may not be a pleasant experience these days. The word ‘crisis’ has become a very commonly used word. Much of it has been reported, the question remains as … Read More

Map of Microfinance Distribution in India

If you are interested in understanding financial inclusion in India, have you ever wondered about the penetration of financial services in India at state-wide or district-wide level? Have you ever wished to explore this penetration across various demographic and socio-economic … Read More

Microfinance Bill- Frequently Asked Questions

Deepti KC | May 25, 2012

Union Cabinet has recently cleared the Microfinance Bill and the bill is now introduced in Lok Sabha. If approved, the microfinance bill will take MFIs outside the purview of state-level legislation and make the central bank to regulate the sector. … Read More