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By Sanjay Sinha ,Managing Director, Micro-Credit Ratings International Limited (M-CRIL) Microfinance Focus , Nov. 02 , 2010 : The ongoing microfinance crisis results from a combination of promoter hubris and observer envy.  In terms of aggregate client numbers, microfinance in India has grown at close to 100 percent per annum over the past 3 years to reach around 30 million client accounts today.  Competition has ... Full story

Microfinance Focus, Nov 02, 2010: Principal Secretary, Rural Development, Govt of Andhra Pradesh, India has informed all RAs (Regional Authorities) across the state that MACS (Mutually Aided Cooperative Societies) do not come under the purview of the microfinance Ordinance which the state government issued on Oct 15. In a message communicated to RAs, the Principal Secretary has said that, no entity registered as a mutually aided ... Full story

Microfinance Focus, Nov 2, 2010: With an objective to develop a sense of comfort and confidence among the stakeholders with regard to the operations of the microfinance institutions, industry association Sa-Dhan organized an interface on Code of Conduct today at NABARD office, Hyderabad. According to a statement made by Sa-Dhan to its members few days before, Agenda of the meeting was to reinforce their commitment to ... Full story

Microfinance Focus, Oct 28, 2010: Microfinance Focus has obtained a report prepared by the Gender Unit of SERP (Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty), listing the victims of microfinance institutions in Andhra Pradesh. Out of the 123 alleged cases of harassment that the report lists out, there are 54 death cases.  According to the list, some of largest microfinance institutions are alleged in most of ... Full story

Microfinance Focus, Oct 28, 2010: Orissa based Indian microfinance institution BISWA (Bharat Integrated Social Welfare Agency) has reduced its interest rates from 20% to 19% (reducing) with effect from October 25, 2010. Their effective interest rate has now come down to 23.5%. The new interest rate is also adopted by BISWA promoted BISWA Microfinance Pvt. Ltd.(BMPL) and Credible Microfinance Private Limited. The group is currently present ... Full story

Microfinance Focus, Oct. 23, 2010 : A year ago, Microfinance Focus Senior Analyst, Daniel Rozas, published an article raising a warning flag about a developing bubble in Andhra Pradesh.  Rozas wrote: “The spark that sets off a large-scale delinquency crisis can be anything and could come at any time – a rapid drop in economic growth, a populist political movement, a religious decree, or ... Full story

By N. Srinivasan, Microfinance Focus , Oct 19, 2010 : The objectives of the ordinance are laudable.  Protection of low income clients from exploitative practices and enhancing levels of transparency are valid public policy objectives of a sovereign government.  High debt levels, multiple operators providing loans as also pressure on repayment rates are legitimate cause for concern.  The remedy being applied does not seem appropriate ... Full story

Microfinance Focus, Oct 8, 2010:(Chennai) Addressing the National Conference on Inclusive Growth in India with an emphasis on Financial Inclusion, Jayanthi Natrajan, Spokesperson for All India Congress Committee, said “Financial inclusion is fundamental for a good democracy and the very meaning of democracy is meaningless without financial inclusion”, on Thursday in Chennai. Pointing out to National ... Full story

Microfinance Focus, September 28, 2010: Major Indian banks which constitute the bulk of on-lending funds to the Indian microfinance industry are coming together to create ‘India Microfinance Platform’ - IMFP, as told to Microfinance Focus by industry sources. The platform is expected to come by the second week of October 2010. The need for such a platform was recognized way back in 2006 where in a ... Full story

By Arvind Ashta, Isabelle Chalamon, Isabelle Demay Microfinance Focus, Sept 27, 2010: Editor`s note : The paper traces the evolution of The Microfinance Sector of Togo over the half century from its independence in 1960 to 2010. The methodology used consisted of a round table discussion with heads of MFIs as well as regulatory, supervisory and financing institutions and academics, followed by individual interviews of about ... Full story

Microfinance Focus, September 21, 2010: Editorial staff at Microfinance Focus has picked out the stories posted on our website which provides information on the performances of microfinance or initiatives in this space in few of  war affected countries. Afghanistan Microfinance Reaching the Rural Afghanistan MIFSA study explores saving habits of microfinance ... Full story

Microfinance Focus, September 17, 2010: Bangalore based NBFC microfinance institution- Ujjivan Financial Services today launched Short Term Business Loan (STBL) in Delhi. This product is aimed at providing working capital to its customers who have been associated with the organisation for more than a year through joint liability groups (JLG). STBL loans will bear interest rate of 22 to 28%.  To avail this loans, customers ... Full story

Microfinance Focus, September 17, 2010: Habitat for Humanity International announced that long-time partner Cargill is continuing its support of Habitat's affordable-housing work around the world with a one-year, $390,000 grant. Founded in 1865, Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services. Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated ... Full story

Microfinance Focus, September 17, 2010: Annual data released by the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that almost 43.6 million Americans now live in poverty, the highest number since record-keeping began in 1959. This is an increase of 3.7 million Americans in 2008 -the third consecutive annual increase. The nation's official poverty rate in 2009 was 14.3 percent, up from 13.2 percent in 2008 - the second ... Full story