GTI Supports Microcredit in India |
 A borrower of GT partner SHARE in Indaia making pottery Grameen Trust India (GTI) is a liaison office of Grameen Trust, in India. GTI supports GT partners and promotes Grameen microcredit for poverty alleviation in India. In 2008 GTI conducted several missions in the States of Assam, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Kerala to assist Microcredit Initiative of Grameen (MIG) with setting up its microcredit operations. Director, GTI, met with the Honorable Chief Minister of Assam, the Honorable Minister for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes of Orissa, as well as other government officials in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. In 2008 GTI liaised with a large number of Grameen partners in India and exchanged views with regard to the field level challenges and administrative issues. GTI held meetings with Grameen partners: SARS, IMSE and VSS from West Bengal, CARD and MGSCS from Tamil Nadu, DISHA from Maharashtra and WAFD from Delhi. During the meetings the working of the MFIs was reviewed and suggestions made for overcoming the operational problems. It was also impressed upon the partners on how an efficient financial management would lead to sustainability of the activity. They were requested to resort to ICT technology wherever possible for cutting down the cost of operations. In July 2008 GTI published a Conference Report compiling the papers, presentations and deliberations of the Grameen International Conference on Microcredit in India, which was organized in 2007. The Conference Report was distributed among others to the participants of the Asia Pacific Regional Microcredit Summit held in Bali, Indonesia, in July 2008. The Report has been appreciated and well received by all. Report by Dr. B. N. Kulkarni |
