Microfinance Focus, January 12, 2011: Kolkata based microfinance institution Bandhan has received the Skoch Financial Inclusion Award 2011 on the Financial Inclusion Day in New Delhi for promoting inclusive growth and poverty alleviation from across urban and rural India. Bandhan had won the Skoch Challenger Award in March 2008 as well.
Dr. C. Rangarajan, Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister presented the award to Bandhan’s Founder, Chairman and Managing Director for its program “Chartering into Unventured Frontiers—Targeting the Hard Core Poor (CUF-THP)”. It is directed towards bringing about holistic and inspirational development in the lives of the most deprived section of the society
Bandhan is reaching out to nearly 3,500 poor through its Hard Core Poor Program. This program is operative not just in West Bengal but also in the underdeveloped north eastern states viz. Tripura and Assam. Grant support (not in cash) is extended to these ultra-poor for a period of 24 months with an objective of graduating them to mainstream finance.
Mr. Chandra Shekhar also participated in the MFI-SHG Conclave, a roundtable with national and international representation from World Bank, UNDP, Ministry of Finance, Planning Commission and others. Home Minister, Mr. P Chidambaram released the book, Growth & Finance - Essays in honor of Dr. C Rangarajan.