“We need constructive participation and collaboration,” said Alok Prasad, CEO of Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN), aptly summing sum up the panel discussion on Microfinance and Empowerment: The Last Mile Challenges and Solution
At a time when Bihar is growing at more than 10 percent, the real challenge is to combine financial inclusion with social development. “Inclusion doesn’t mean only financial inclusion, it should also lead to social development,”
Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi has appealed to the banking institutions to convert their delivery mechanism for the financial inclusion programme into a successful business model so that it is sustainable and benefits the poor. He s
I suspect that the interest shown by the “mainstream” Indian media in the Fareed Zakaria plagiarism controversy was more because of his Indian origins and celebrity status than his professional transgression. There are many good reason
Parliament was disrupted for the fourth consecutive day on Friday as opposition triggered uproar in both Houses demanding resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over controversial coal block allocations. As soon as both the Houses me
Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy on Friday said he will seek a review of the Supreme Court judgement dismissing his petition in the 2G spectrum case against Finance Minister P Chidambaram. "I will seek a review of the judgemen
In a huge relief to Finance Minister P Chidambaram, the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea for making him a co-accused in the 2G spectrum case, saying there was no prima facie material against him of any criminal conspiracy or procuring of a
Senior BJP leader LK Advani wants the presence of ADMK MPs on Monday in parliament to expose UPA-II coalgate scam. Advani is to phone Jayalalithaa on Friday to suggest that she may ask her MPs to remain in Delhi on Monday. ADMK MPs are to
There are an estimated 50 million Indians on Facebook. A few million also use Twitter. Disclaimer: I have active accounts on both. I imagine you do too. So, let’s not waste time on the number for YouTube, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. Or Dave Car
India does not have a nuclear and radiation safety policy even after 30 years of creation of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) in 1983 specifically to formulate such a policy. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) that i
Under opposition fire for two days, government on Thursday launched a counter-offensive on seeking to put BJP and the Left in the dock in Parliament over their suggestions in 2005 against auction of coal blocks. BJP members, who have been
An MLA of Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF), which is an ally of the ruling Congress in Assam, was arrested in the wee hours on Thursday for his alleged involvement in the recent violence in the state. Pradeep Brahma, alias Gara, who represents
Normal operations in India`s public sector banks, including cheque clearances and fund transfers, were on Thursday hampered for the second day because of the strike called by unions to protest against reforms in the sector and outsourcing of non-c
Absence of Pranab Mukherjee as a troubleshooter to end the deadlock is not being felt by the UPA-II. Moreover, as the BJP wants the scalp of prime minister Manmohan Singh, no leader in the UPA-II is willing to stick his neck out. Neither s
Keeping up heat on the UPA-II government by paralysing parliament for the second day on Wednesday demanding the prime minister`s resignation over the "coalgate," the Bhartiya Janata Party now wants him to appear, along with finance minis
A final set of new connectivity proposals worth Rs 346 crore to Gujarat is "about to get sanctioned," rural development minister Jairam Ramesh said while refuting the BJP`s charge of discrimination to its ruled states in funding under th
After rocking both houses of parliament on Tuesday demanding prime minister Manmohan Singh’s resignation over the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report on coal blocks allocation, the Bharatiya Janata Party has called a parliamentary
Employees of public sector banks have gone on two-day nationwide strike on Wednesday opposing banking sector reforms and outsourcing of non-core activities, affecting operations. Several private sector banks, foreign banks and ATMs, howeve
Defying the Mumbai police, which refused him permission for a rally from Girgaum Chowpatty to Azad Maidan, MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday led his supporters` march against August 11 violence during a demonstration against alleged atrocities on
An internal audit has exposed the Indian Army for supplying ration to at least 2.5 lakh ghost soldiers who either do not exist or draw the double benefit of free cooked meals plus the ration monthly allowance (RMA). The defence ministry`s
