SAIL inaugurates Representative Office in Dubai (See 'Corp Brief') Union Minister releases Aluminium Vision Document to drive Green Manufacturing (See 'Corp Brief') Reddy releases Copper Vision Document to strengthen India's Clean Energy Infra (See 'Corp Brief') Chouhan visits SKUAST-K Horticulture Gardens (See 'Corp Brief') 'Handloom Hackathon 2025' launched (See 'Corp Brief') MSME Minister visits KVIC in Mumbai (See 'Corp Brief') Construction of roads to begin soon under Phase IV of PMGSY: Chouhan (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - Permanent injunction issued against Defendant, prohibiting him from using 'VIVO' mark or any similar marks that could cause confusion and prevent any misrepresentation: HC (See 'Legal Desk') SAKSHAM-3000 switch cum router with 25.6 Tera bit per second launched (See 'Corp Brief') APEDA organizes 'Indian Mango Mania 2025' in Abu Dhabi (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - Superlative injunction opens up additional route for plaintiffs to avail grant of real-time reliefs against infringing activities of 'rogue' defendants, irrespective of mode thereof: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Need of strengthening SHG-led FNHW interventions Stressed (See 'Corp Brief') Santosh Kumar Takhele takes addl charge as Regional Executive Director, NTPC (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - Franchise India can't be allowed to pass off their products as that of Rasna's, since it may confuse members of trade and also of general public involved: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Scindia interacts with Postal and Sorting Assistants for spirit of 'Dak Sewa, Jan Sewa' (See 'Corp Brief') ESIC launches SPREE 2025 to expand Social Security Coverage (See 'Corp Brief') FERA - No penalty can be levied if therre is no default in realization of export proceeds: SAFEMA (See 'Legal Desk') CCI again penalises Federation of Publishers' and Booksellers' Association (See 'Corp Brief') CCI approves acquisition of equity in NACL Industries by Coromandel International (See 'Corp Brief') Hardeep Puri highlights LPG Connections and Oil & Gas Reforms (See 'Corp Brief') Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996 - 613-day delay in filing appeal can be condoned where no valid explanation is given for this inordinate delay: HC (See 'Legal Desk') CCI nod for investment by British International in ReNew Photovoltaics (See 'Corp Brief') CCI okays acquisition of shares of Billionbrains Garage Ventures by Viggo Investment (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - Request for timeline for disbursal of claim in form of query, rather than request for information u/s 2(f) of RTI Act, is not permitted: IBBI (See 'Legal Desk') Pondicherry Univ launches Governance Cell to inspire Next-Gen Public Leaders (See 'Corp Brief') MoS discusses Coastal Action Plan, Deep Ocean Prospects in Puducherry (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - Controller of Patents must clearly specify in hearing notice 'known substance' against which claimed invention of applicant is being assessed: HC (See 'Legal Desk') MoU signed to develop MY Bharat 2.0 Platform (See 'Corp Brief') 8th National Level Steering Committee meeting of Atal Bhujal Yojana held (See 'Corp Brief') SARFAESI - If borrowers have already availed remedy u/s 17 and secured creditor has no other alternative remedy, then creditor can avail remedy of petition under Article 227: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Centre issues Model Rules to States to aid Ease of Doing Business in Agroforestry (See 'Corp Brief') We have to make cycling trend in this modern generation: Mandaviya (See 'Corp Brief') Arbitration & Conciliation Act - Commercial Court not justified in refusing to release 25% of arbitral award to petitioner-company solely due to its change of name: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Sonowal hails Brahma Kumaris for 50 years of spiritual service and human upliftment (See 'Corp Brief') CEA organises All-India Electrical Safety awareness programme (See 'Corp Brief') SEBI - Delay in filing appeal not condonable where facts reflect that appellant was clearly aware of proceedings commenced by SEBI but did not prosecute appeal: SAT (See 'Legal Desk') Why Family Businesses in India Are Losing Their Own Bloodline (See CORP EINSICHT)

DFS Secretary chairs meeting with Micro Finance Institutions

Published: Jan 09, 2025

By TIOLCorplaws News Service

NEW DELHI, JAN 09, 2025: M Nagaraju, Secretary, DFS, M/o Finance chaired a meeting with major Micro Finance Institutions, in New Delhi, today. The meeting was also attended by senior officials of DFS including industry bodies namely MFIN & Sa-Dhan.

The engagement with MFIs was designed to foster an open exchange of ideas aimed at elevating the MFI sector. The emphasis was on reaching the low income households in villages and uplifting their lives by providing them hassle-free financial assistance, if needed.

Participating MFIs apprised that the business of MFI industry has risen from Rs. 17,264 crores in March'12 to Rs. 3.93 lakh crore as on November'24. The industry operates in over 723 districts including 111 aspirational districts across 28 states and 8 Union Territories. They also cater to the financial needs of almost 8 crore borrowers.  MFIs contributes 2.03% of the gross value added to GDP and supports 1.3 crore jobs.

During the meeting, challenges & issues being faced by MFIs were also discussed. It was informed that MFIs are facing difficulties in raising low cost long term funds. The quality of MFI portfolio is being impacted on account of various issues including reduction in lending to the sector.

The MFIs requested for formulating credit guarantee scheme(s) suiting MFIs/borrowers, creation of special fund/facility for MFIs operating in North East region and relaxation in qualifying assets norms applicable to MFIs so that their risk can be diversified to other lending avenues.

Secretary, DFS emphasised that MFIs in India need to be more robust, vibrant and financially sound, catering to the needs of rural masses. MFIs need to draw a roadmap to strengthen the sector and become more viable, he said. It was also pointed out that like digital disbursements, MFIs should encourage repayment of loans digitally while at the same time focus on cybersecurity & resilient IT infrastructure. They should also strengthen their governance standards.

During the meeting, Secretary, DFS recognized the work done by MFIs in impacting the lives of people in rural areas. He stated that DFS value the efforts put in by MFIs in supporting financial inclusion.

TIOL CORP SEARCH

TIOL GROUP WEBSITES