BIRD – CICTAB Programme on

Skill Development of Trainers on promotion and financing of

Self Help Groups & Joint Liability Groups for Financial Inclusion of Rural Poor

BIRD, in association with CICTAB [Centre for International Cooperation in Training and Agricultural

Banking], a centre located in Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Coop Management (VAMNICOM),

Pune, and with sponsorship of NABARD, MCID, HO organised the above programme at Lucknow from

14th to 17th March 2017.

The programme was inaugurated by Shri HR Dave, Dy. Managing Director, NABARD in the presence of

Shri. Suresh N Patel, MD & CEO, Andhra Bank and Dr Hawa Singh, Ex-Registrar, Kurukshetra University

[all members of the Governing Council of BIRD]. Dr DV Deshpande, Director, BIRD, Lucknow and Dr PJ

Ranjith, Principal, NBSC, Lucknow also addressed the participants. Shri Rakesh Srivastava, GM, BIRD

welcomed all present, while Shri Raj Kumar, Joint Director, BIRD proposed vote of thanks.

The objective of the programme was to sensitise the participants about the concept of SHGs / JLGs as

an effective alternate approach to credit delivery and thereby further the cause of financial inclusion.

Being a trainers’ skill development programme, relevant HR inputs were also provided.

31 participants from Nepal and India, representing various institutions like Nepal Rastra Bank [NRB],

Nepal Federation of Savings and Credit Cooperative Unions Ltd. [NEFSCUN]; Nepal Agricultural Co-

operative Central Federation Ltd. [NACCFL]; National Co-operative Bank Ltd. [NCBL] and NAFED

attended the programme. Ms. Bhawana Singh, Director [Monitoring], Dept. of Rural Development,

MoRD, GoI, New Delhi also participated in the programme.

As part of the programme, the participants visited Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas Pariyojana [RGMVP] to

understand the federation model of SHG formation and financing. They also visited a few SHGs and

interacted with the members of the groups, the Village and Block Organisations.

The participants were highly appreciative of the way the programme was conceptualised and

delivered by BIRD, Lucknow. The programme was co-ordinated by S/Shri Manikumar S and KPR

Udupa, DGM / FMs of BIRD, Lucknow. A few photographs are attached.

Shri HR Dave, DMD, NABARD delivering the inaugural address. Seen [L to R]: Dr Hawa Singh, Ex-Registrar,

Kurukshetra University; Shri Suresh N Patel, CMD, Andhra Bank; Dr DV Deshpande, Director, BIRD, Lucknow

and Dr PJ Ranjith, Principal, NBSC, Lucknow

Group Photo

Participants at RGMVP Head Office

Interacting with SHG members