DeLPHE INDIA Workshop-
Micro Finance- Gender and Poverty
(7th and 8th December 2009)
The two day workshop was formally inaugurated by the Hon. Minister of Finance, Govt. of Kerala and noted economist Dr.T.M.Thomas Issac in a meeting chaired by the SCMS-COCHIN Chairman , Dr.G.P.C.Nayar. Dr. Arun T.G, Professor from university of Central Lancashire delivered the key note address. Dr.Raman Nair, Director- SCMS-COCHIN welcomed the gathering. The Director-Research and Training –Dr. Ram Mohan R presented the scope of the project. Prof. Mercia Malar proposed a vote of thanks. A presentation made by the students on import of microfinance to India with special relevance to Tamil Nadu and Kerala were screened.
The programme details are enclosed. The lists of external participants are appended. The partner institution representatives- Dr.Satta Tadeo (IFM, Tanzania) and Mr.Samuel Ammin (YAALEX and University of Cape Coast, Ghana) representing partner institutions graced the occasion. The meeting was well attended with academics, students, representatives of MFIs, donor agencies and members from the visual and print media
Technical Session 1 which was a partners meeting was held on Day 1 itself. The representatives of partner countries evaluated the status and scope of the preparatory work done and deliberated on the work progress and effective means of achieving tangible outputs which would be useful to the academia and industry. It was decided to critically review the base documents prepared by all partners by circulation as the process needed more time.
In the Technical Session -2, Sri A. V.V.Subramonium, from NABARD , Smt. Indumathi, DM, SIDBI, Mr.Jaya Prakash, Lead bank Manager, Ernakulam, Somy John, HDFC and partners presented on the critical factors and emerging issues in funding MFIS. The session was chaired by Dr. Arun T.G. In the Technical session-3, presentations were made by representatives of NGOs and MFIs in microfinance .This included ESAF, Kudumbashree, GSGSK, WESCO etc., The technical sessions were followed by active interaction with participants .
The proceeds of the sessions were later used by the partners to refine their research process further.
Report by Dr.Ram Mohan R , Director - Research and Training - SCMS
