2007 By Prabhu Ghate Lead Author Access Development Services has been established as a national technical services company to support the growing microfinance sector in India. In addition, Access also focuses on developing sustainable solutions for upscaling livelihoods of the poor. As a part of its mandate, currently Access houses the microfinance India platform and also supports the largest microfinance network viz “Access Microfinance Alliance” for streamlined and structured services to emerging MFI's in the country. Access's vision is to be global partner of choice providing inclusive and innovative livelihoods solution enabling the poor to overcome poverty and live with dignity. www.accessdev.org LEAD AUTHOR Prabhu Ghate (
[email protected]) is an independent researcher, journalist and consultant. He was in the IAS in UP, and a senior Economist at the ADB where he authored "Informal Finance: Some Findings from Asia" (OUP, Hong Kong, 1992). He has a Ph D in public policy from Princeton University.
[email protected] Microfinance in India A State of the Sector Report, 2007 By Prabhu Ghate Sai Gunaranjan Vijay Mahajan Prasanth Regy Frances Sinha Sanjay Sinha Microfinance India 28 Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi 110 016 This report represents the personal views of the chapter authors. It does not represent the views of Microfinance India, or of its sponsors, or of the Microfinance India Advisory Group. 1 2 Contents Chapter Page No Foreword 5 Preface and Acknowledgments 6 Abbreviations 8 1 Overview 11 Prabhu Ghate 2 Progress Under the SHG