Theme: Financial Lives of Poor Households

Governments have proven to be too inefficient, the non-profits too small and the corporates too greedy to provide basic services. What about for-profit social enterprises?

In February 2010, I had the opportunity to visit Pudhuaaru KGFS in Thanjavur. This is a remarkable project which helps us see the interface between households and the financial system in a wholly new light.

The Committee to Review Implementation of Informal Sector Pension (CRIISP) recently released their report focusing on National Pension Scheme (NPS), its design architecture, its performance till date and recommendations for increasing outreach and awareness about the product

Remittances are the second largest source of funding for developing countries, contributing more than capital flows and development assistance.

In India, gram panchayats (GPs) were given constitutional legitimacy following the passage of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, which was meant to decentralise power and responsibility to them to improve local public service delivery and governance.

Agriculture incomes in India are volatile because of a number of unforeseen factors, such as weather, disease/pest infestations and/or market conditions.

My colleague and I were once asked at a conference, “So, how exactly does a bank account reduce poverty?” Great question.

Gopal G., a native of West Bengal, moved to Delhi 14 years ago to find a job to support his 11-member family. In Delhi, he works with a goldsmith, earning Rs 3,600 a month, much of which he sends back home.

A defining characteristic of the finances of low-income households is the irregularity and seasonality of cash-flows, and the generally small surplus.

Increasing urbanization and massive demographic pressures that India is witnessing has brought housing and infrastructure to centre stage.