Where Angels Prey

Where Angels Prey is a novel by Ramesh S Arunachalam. Please refer to www.whereangelsprey.com for more information

Friday, September 30, 2011

MFI corporate governance norms: How can these be put in place?

Ramesh S Arunachalam

It is great for banks to appoint many nominee-directors to MFI boards, but they must act responsibly on the ground

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Ten practical steps to eliminate multiple, over and ghost lending at MFIs

Ramesh S Arunachalam

The idea of thinking that a credit bureau alone could eliminate multiple, over and ghost lending and usher in responsible micro-finance lending seems very naïve. In fact, this could result in the credit bureau becoming a red herring rather than an actual solution. And unless the systemic issues are addressed, responsible micro-finance lending will remain a distant dream

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Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Microfinance industry must speak in a collective voice in PIL before Madras HC

Ramesh S Arunachalam

MFIs, banks, SIDBI and respective industry associations must be given a fair chance to implead themselves into the Public Interest Litigation filed at the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court

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Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Indian microfinance credit bureau: Why is it not fully operational yet?

Ramesh S Arunachalam
The microfinance credit bureau has not been set up yet due to lack of strong leadership, no serious regulatory support, unrealistic targets, lack of reliable ground-level data, IT issues and lack of focus on execution
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Saturday, September 24, 2011

Seal of excellence and social performance management: Will they work in the agent-led decentralised microfinance model?

Ramesh S Arunachalam

As concepts, a seal of excellence or social performance management will make good yardsticks to monitor Microfinance Institutions, but there will be practical difficulties in measuring these yardsticks and implementing them

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Friday, September 23, 2011

Proposed Microfinance Bill has to look at the centre leader as a microfinance agent

Ramesh S Arunachalam
Centre leaders have tremendous local knowledge and significant local support in villages; they are opinion leaders and can develop extreme familiarity with the microfinance concept, processes and procedures

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Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Should for-profit companies be permitted to act as business correspondents for banks?

Ramesh S Arunachalam
DFIs and banks, including SIDBI, have miserably failed in their due diligence of NBFC MFIs, and expecting them to do this with regard to the business correspondent model is somewhat naïve. The RBI should undertake an examination of the grass-roots realities before implementing the new initiatives for financial inclusion
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Monday, September 19, 2011

The need for due diligence for business correspondents who deliver financial services to low-income people

Ramesh S Arunachalam
The business correspondent model offers a unique possibility for mainstream low-income financial services. But recent experience has shown that there are huge risks as well, which is why it must be regulated carefully
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Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Redeeming the Indian microfinance industry requires MFIs to put their clients first

Ramesh S Arunachalam

Low-income people want appropriate products and quality service and MFIs which focus on meeting client needs in an ethical manner will be the most successful in the long-term

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Monday, September 12, 2011

Establishing standards for effective management information systems for MFIs

Ramesh S Arunachalam

A good MIS is absolutely necessary for MFIs to manage the interface with clients and conduct activities/processes in a manner that is efficient, effective and transparent

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Saturday, September 10, 2011

Tackling the burgeoning agrarian crisis in India

Ramesh S Arunachalam

Farmer suicides are a tragic indication of the seriousness of the widespread indebtedness caused by imperfections in the agricultural sector that must be corrected urgently. Good recommendations and well-meaning schemes are available on paper. But making them work for a large majority of the poor and marginal farmers is critical

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Thursday, September 8, 2011

Re-engineering financial inclusion in agriculture is key to promoting inclusive growth

Ramesh S Arunachalam

Proper financing of agriculture must enable and facilitate a wide range of innovative solutions that will strengthen the primary producer that is critical for fighting poverty in Bharat

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Tuesday, September 6, 2011

National Rural Livelihood Mission: Understanding the vulnerability of low-income groups

Ramesh S Arunachalam
If NRLM has to succeed in raising the livelihood of poor rural people, where previous programmes have failed, it is necessary to involve low-income producers in the design and implementation of various programmes, as only then can the structural causes of poverty be substantively tackled

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Saturday, September 3, 2011

Financial inclusion of sugarcane farmers in modern-day India

Ramesh S Arunachalam

In some ways, financing arrangements today penalise the small producer for mistakes of other parties. There is an urgent need to make financial products for low-income people client-sensitive and responsive