Raise minimum capital requirement for micro finance institutions say experts

New Delhi: Industry experts today called for raising the minimum capital requirement of Rs 5 lakh for micro finance institutions (MFIs) to avoid influx of operators. At the same time, definition of micro credit needs to be worked out clearly when the Micro Finance Institutions (Development and Regulation) Bill 2011 is placed in Parliament, they said at a roundtable discussion organised by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). The new law should spell out prudential norms for deposit and thrift collections besides a firm and transparent regulatory framework. Experts said the bill on MFIs is a positive development as the industry has been clamouring for a technology-backed regulatory environment over the past many years. India is one of the largest micro finance loan market in the world with the sector having potential to grow at an annual average of 50 per cent, and attracting domestic and foreign investors hoping to practice profitable philanthropy. Once the new law is in place, said experts, inflow of funds from banks will increase. The recent RBI intervention by constituting Malegaon Committee is a progressive step to regulate the sector and tackle issues like cost of raising funds, interest rates, loan ticket size, repayment options and high operating costs due to door-to-door step facilities. Micro finance loans in the country serve as the last-mile bridge to low-income population estimated at 600 million which is excluded from traditional financial services system and seeks to fill the gap. Industry leaders said the introduction of multi-purpose national identity cards is expected to revolutionise the micro-finance sector by bringing down transaction costs. Bigger financial institutions with huge funds do not find commercially feasible to lend to the poor as they cannot offer anything as collateral security. Though micro-finance in the organised sector is still at nascent stages, it can metamorphose into a bigger activity if given the right fillip. The present quantum of micro-finance can be enhanced by sustained efforts on the part of financial institutions, self help groups and interested NGOs. The issues of alternate funding, reduction in operating costs, restricting indebtedness and income criteria need to be fine-tuned and supported for healthy and vibrant growth of micro-finance institutions, said the experts. The ultimate purpose of micro-finance has been to provide small ticket size credit to the most vulnerable sections of the society – more specifically to women. It has been able to generate employment as well as income to larger sections of the lowest strata of the pyramid. Among those present in the discussion were Mr P.K. Jain, chairman and managing director of The Malt & Company, Mr Samit Ghosh, managing director of Ujjivan Financial Services, Mr Suresh Krishna, managing director of Grameen Financial Services, and Mr Jyotirmoy Jain, advisor and head of ASSOCHAM’s banking and finance division. Some experts said the bill should have provisions to keep away objections from states.

orissadiary.com