No. of states
No. of branches
No. of members
No. of staff
Loan disbursed this month
Loan outstanding
: 14
: 1008
: 1,929,636
: 5,647
:Rs.215 crores
:Rs.928 crores
Our Partners
Recent Happenings :
Visit of Honorable Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India
Honorable Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India, Dr. K.C. Chakrabarty visited Bandhan on 3rd October’09.
Dr. Chakrabarty visited Bandhan’s head office and interacted with staff of different departments. A confluence comprising of senior dignitaries from different banks, employees of Bandhan and beneficiaries was held at Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Salt Lake, Kolkata.
Noted Bankers were present at the confluence. It was an interactive session in which all the bankers, beneficiaries, staff participated actively. Thee meet began with a brief presentation about the organization. Some beneficiaries depicted their journey with Bandhan in the forum. Thereafter an open session was presided by Honorable Deputy Governor.
The whole session was a great success with the inspirational speech by Dr. Chakrabarty.
The program was closed by a speech of Chairman & Managing Director, Mr. Chandra Shekhar Ghosh.
Remote banking awareness program organized by Reserve Bank of India
Honorable Deputy Governor, RBI, Smt. Usha Thorat visited Agartala on 3rd September’09 in the occasion of a rural/remote banking awareness program organized by Reserve Bank of India. Chairman & Managing Director, Mr. Chandra Shekhar Ghosh participated in this special event.
Seminar on “Launching a National Initiative for Financial Inclusion”
Chairman & managing Director, Mr. Chandra Shekhar Ghosh participated in the Seminar on “Launching a National Initiative for Financial Inclusion” held on 18th September’09 at National Agricultural Science Centre (NASC), New Delhi. The seminar was organized by Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
Mr. Ghosh made a presentation on the successful model of Bandhan in regard to Financial Inclusion.
The program started with the opening remark by Shri. G. C Chaturvedi, Additional Secretary, Department of Financial Services,
Some distinguished dignitaries who were present in the said seminar includes – Mr. K.C Chakrabarty, Deputy Governor, RBI, Mr. Umesh Chandra Sarangi, Chairman, NABARD, dignitaries from Commercial banks and other MFIs also attended the seminar.
BANDHAN STANDS BY THE AILA AFFECTED
The severe cyclone Aila accompanied by heavy storm of 25th May'09 left the life of people in some districts of West Bengal paralysed and disrupted.
Lakhs of people were rendered homeless and thousands were evacuated.
Bandhan took a humble initiative for the emergency call and stood there for the affected giving relief in the districts of – North 24 parganas, Kali Nagar, Jhanjhaniya Battala,Putimari, Chhoto Sheyara, Muripota, Gajaliya,Ghoshpur on 21st June '09.
Risk Round Table Conference
Aavishkar Goodwell, CGAP and Intellecap had organized a day-long risk round table conference on ‘Exploring the Contours of Risk in Indian Microfinance and Identifying Strategic Responses’ on January 15, 2009 in Mumbai.
This event brought together about 45 participants and provided a platform by which to identify key risks facing the microfinance industry in India and discuss countermeasures for the same. Invitees were a select group of key actors in the sector and represented the different stakeholder groups: investors, bankers, industry observers and CEOs of leading MFIs in the country.
Bandhan was invited to participate at the same.
Regional workshop on ‘Micro-Enterprise Development for the urban poor in North East’
The Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati had organized a one day Regional Workshop on February 26, 2009. The objective of the workshop was to formulate a comprehensive approach for the development of micro enterprises for the urban poor in the North East. The participants of the workshop were State Government officials in relevant departments, Municipal Administrations, NGOs working in this area etc. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty alleviation, Government of India had sponsored the workshop.
Mr. Ghosh was invited as one of the Lead Speakers in the said workshop. He delivered a talk on ‘Critical issues / analysis on the Policy support on Micro Enterprise Development for urban poor in India along with the possibilities and potential of Micro Enterprise Development in the North East.
Conference on building efficient Human Resources in MFIs
Bankers Institute of Rural Development (BIRD) has been actively involved in the capacity building of MFIs. With the growth of the MFI sector in the last few years, the MFIs have now been facing the challenge of recruiting the right talent.
It is in this context that BIRD had organizing a conference on February 28, 2009 at Lucknow to address these issues and prepare a road map for building HR in MFIs. Mr. Ghosh had addressed this conference.
State Policy Conclave“Breaking the vicious cycle of poverty: Synergy between Microfinance and Livelihoods”
Sa-Dhan had organized the State Policy Conclave “Breaking the vicious cycle of poverty” in Kolkata on December 19, 2008. Mr. Ghosh was invited to make a presentation on the technical session titled ‘Synergy between Livelihood & Microfinance Intervention: Opportunities & Challenges’. The session explored the options and strategies of collaborating the micro finance intervention of the states with existing livelihood support systems while also amalgamating the provision of integral financial services.
ACCESS Development Services had organized Microfinance India 2008 Summit between November 11-13, 2008 at New Delhi.
The Microfinance India Summit first organized in 2004 has become the most significant international event on Indian Microfinance.
Most practitioners and experts agree on the limits of microcredit to effectively serve the needs of the poorest. In this regard a session on ‘Deepening outreach: Graduating the poorest into microfinance’ took place on November 11, 2008. Bandhan participated as a panelist at the same.
NABARD extends capital support to Bandhan
National Bank for Agriculture And Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned capital support of Rs. 100 lakhs from Microfinance Development and Equity Fund (MFDEF) to Bandhan (society).
We are happy to be associated with an esteemed institution like NABARD and look forward to a long term relationship with them. The cheque was handed over by Mr. P.Mohanaiah, Chief General Manager, NABARD to Mr. Ghosh at the West Bengal Regional Office.
Mr. Ghosh elected as Senior Ashoka Fellow
Mr. Ghosh as a Senior Ashoka fellow participated in the 2008 Ashoka Fellow Orientation and Induction held at Pune from September 17-19, 2008. It was a two part event- the induction was a public event during which newly elected Ashoka Fellows were formally and publicly welcomed into the Ashoka fellowship. The Orientation was a two day workshop to help the fellows know each other better and also learn more about Ashoka.
Bandhan was a part of the plenary session on “Growth Inclusive Development: Regulatory Framework, Opportunities & Constraints” at the Conclave on Microfinance organized by CII.
CII had organized Conclave on Microfinance: Innovations and New Business Models at Hotel Taj Bengal, Kolkata on August 12, 2008 to take stock of the phenomenal growth of the sector in the Eastern Region.
The conclave brought together a wide range of finance professionals, leading MFIs, internal and regional banks, emerging markets, specialists, rating agencies, government officials, researchers, SHGs, development sector, NGOs to discuss the successes, challenges and trends of microfinance investment in India.
Mr. Ghosh was invited to speak in the session “Growth Inclusive Development: Regulatory Framework, Opportunities & Constraints”. The session looked at the key drivers for development and inclusive growth. Discussions were on the opportunities and challenges of the MF sector. The session also delved upon the regulatory environment, with the Government preparing the bill to regulate the sector.
Bandhan participated at the Asia Pacific Regional Micro Credit Summit Meeting of Councils held at Indonesia in July 2008.
Mr. C.S.Ghosh, CEO, Bandhan was invited as a panelist at the Asia Pacific Regional Micro Credit Summit Meeting of Councils held at Bali, Indonesia from July 28-30, 2008.Mr. Ghosh participated as a panelist at the workshop entitled ‘Five Cents a Day: Innovative Programs for Reaching the Destitute with Micro grants, no interest loans and other instruments’.
Punjab National Bank (PNB) provides financial assistance to Bandhan
Punjab National Bank (PNB) has sanctioned a term loan facility to the tune of Rs. 25 crores to Bandhan. This is Bandhan’s first ever deal with PNB. We look forward to a long term association with them.
Bandhan had participated in the 2nd Global Microfinance and Health Protection (MAHP) meeting organized by Freedom from Hunger that was held in San Francisco, California from October 20-23, 2008.
The Global MAHP meeting brought together those involved in MAHP as implementing partners, researchers and technical resource people from Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, India, the Philippines and North America. The meeting provided a forum for participants to compare experiences to date, exchange ideas and lessons learned and continue strategic-level discussions about the diverse MAHP packages and products, as well as the process of developing and implementing those innovations over the past two years. Plans, obstacles and recommendations related to MAHP package scale-up and replication were also be discussed.
The Inaugural Meeting of the Women’s Forum Asia at Shanghai
Bandhan was invited to participate at the inaugural meeting of the Women’s Forum Asia, on May 15-17, 2008 in Shanghai, which was being produced for the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society in partnership with the All China Women’s Federation. Mr. Ghosh was a discussion leader in the session on “Micro finance as a boost for women’s integration: breaking the constraints to leverage the benefits”, on May 15, 2008.
The overall theme of the 2008 Forum was Growth and sustainability: How women are making a difference. This inaugural edition of the Women’s Forum Asia brought together about 700 participants from around the world, mostly women in leadership positions in business, politics and society.
Banking Conference at Indian School of Business, Hyderabad
Centre for Analytical Finance (CAF) hosted a banking conference on June 13, 2008 at the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad to provide a forum for discussion on the following issue: Economic and Social Responsibilities of Indian Commercial Banks: is there a healthy compromise?
These are exciting times for the Indian banking sector. It is growing rapidly with even better future prospects. Some of these opportunities are likely to be global in scope. This conference offered a public platform for the leaders to examine this question. It consisted of two panel discussions and a special address.
a) Competitiveness of Indian Commercial Banks: changes and reforms necessary to make Indian commercial banks competitive in an increasingly global market place.
b) Social responsibilities of the Indian Banking Sector: how to include the un banked masses into the banking network.
Mr. Ghosh was invited to participate and contribute to the discussions. He accepted the invitation and did attend the conference.
