mfseminar2011

BACKGROUND:

The microfinance revolution has made a breakthrough in the last two decades in India. Starting with the SHG bank linkages programme, it has passed through the phase of commercialization. In the recent past, microfinance institutions have been alleged of being exploitative, and state governments have been cautious and in some cases have been aggressive in dealing with such institutions that has affected all the aspects of the sector. The Malegam Committee report in this context is the latest development that will have long term impact on the microfinance industry as a whole.

While there can be no second thought about the usefulness of the interventions made by the microfinance agencies, there are genuine (and basic) questions to be answered. Does microfinance really contribute to the poor? What will be its shape with the incoming private funds? Should there be an interest rate cap? In operational terms also there are issues of capacity building, information management, corporate governance, and monitoring. It is not that such questions have not been asked in the past. However it becomes much more sensitive particularly in the face of the current crisis.

In this backdrop, a National Seminar on Microfinance and Development has been planned to be held during June 24-25, 2011 in Kolkata. The seminar will be jointly held by Vivekananda College and The Livelihood School. Part financial support for organizing this seminar has been received from UGC to Vivekananda College.

PARTICIPANTS:

Social scientists, Researchers of Research Institutions and Universities, Representatives of Government departments, NGOs/CBOs, Banks & Other Financial Institutions, Donor Organizations and individuals who are directly or indirectly involved in supporting/promoting Microfinance. We also invite research papers and practitioners’ case study, which can be included in the sessions.

ABOUT THE LIVELIHOOD SCHOOL:

The Livelihood School (www.thelivelihoodschool.in) is an academic institution promoted by BASIX group, a modern livelihood promotion institution. It is basically engaged in two major functions such as i) Knowledge Building through research studies, documenting case studies of successful and non-successful practices, and organizing knowledge sharing forums like workshop, seminar and ii) Knowledge Dissemination through educational programme to livelihood practitioners for enhancing their understanding and implementation capabilities, who in turn will promote large number of livelihoods.

ABOUT VIVEKANANDA COLLEGE:

Vivekananda College, initially known as Barisha College, established in 1950 under the Dispersal Scheme of the State Government to ease pressure for admission of students to the Colleges in the Calcutta Metropolis with the influx of people from the then East Pakistan, the present Bangladesh. Starting as an Intermediate College, the College in 1956 was sponsored by the State Government with its upgrading as a degree College and in the same year it was also brought under the Refugee Education Scheme of the Ministry of Rehabilitation, Government of India, with the State Government retaining control over it. Afterwards it was renamed as Vivekananda College after the sacred name of Swami Vivekananda – the great patriot and social reformer, an eternal embodiment of the soul of India and a great inspiring force behind the making of modern India.  The College runs undergraduate and post-graduate courses in various disciplines and presently it has about 5000 students enrolled in it.    

FOR ANY FURTHER ENQUIRY PLEASE CONTACT:

Dr. Atanu Thakur, Vivekananda College, Thakurpukur, Kolkata-70006 Mobile number: 9830888837, Email ID: mfseminar2011@gmail.com  

Mr. Pradeep Kumar Mishra, The Livelihood School, BE-315, Ground Floor, Sector-1, Salt Lake City, Kolkata- 700064, Phone: 033 400 40503, Email ID: mfseminar2011@gmail.com