INTRODUCTION

Bandhan was born in 2001 under the leadership of Mr. Chandra

Shekhar Ghosh, a Senior Ashoka Fellow.
The main thrust of Bandhan is to work with women who are socially
disadvantaged and economically exploited. Bandhan works for their
social upliftment and economic emancipation.
To achieve the above objective, Bandhan is basically engaged in the
delivery of microfinance services to the poor women.
Bandhan has been engaged in the delivery of microfinance service
for the last 13 years. The model followed is individual lending through
group formation.
All microfinance activities are carried under Bandhan Financial
Services Limited (BFSL), incorporated under the Companies Act,
1956 and also registered as a Non Banking Financial Company
(NBFC) with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

The microfinance operations started from Bagnan, a small

village which is 60 kms away from the city of Kolkata. In 13
years, Bandhan has travelled a wide geography of 22 States
and Union Territories with special focus on eastern and
underdeveloped states of North East.
Over a short span of 13 years of operation, Bandhan has
received various accolades for the efforts it is taking towards
women empowerment and poverty alleviation. These awards
are not just mere awards but more of a motivation for the entire
team to march ahead towards achieving its mission and vision.
Bandhan takes this opportunity to thank all those who have
been associated with Bandhan and have supported our
endeavors in whatever way possible.

To reduce economic and social

poverty significantly by
creating employment through
providing cost effective ,
sustainable financial and other
development services.

OBJECTIV
E
To work with those who are
socially disadvantaged and
economically exploited, especially
women. Bandhan works for their
social upliftment and
emancipation by providing micro
financing services.

Cost effective and simple

Respect for all

Exemplary governance

Accountability

Transparency and integrity

E
Effective team work and
commitment

Need for MFIs

Credit has to be created for demand condition
Has worked as a mechanism to correct

market imbalance
Has worked as a empowerment tool
Cheaper credit has allowed people to
innovate and take risks.

Strengths
High level of international recognition
Easy corpus formation due to credibility
Network spread in 18 states
The model Sustainability
The progress speaks for itself
Bottom up approach to development
Expansion of choice availability to IBs

METHODOLO
GY
Group formation individual lending
approach.
A group of 10-20 members is formed.
Clients have to attend the meetings
for 2 successive weeks.
After 2 weeks they are entitled to
receive loans.
The loans are disbursed individually
and directly to members.

Direct Benefits
Dual objective: Poverty alleviation and women

empowerment.
Increasing family income through women
helps increase status of women in the family
and society.
Confidence and decision making power
increases.

Indirect Benefits
Aids formation of Small scale / cottage

industries such as :
Embroidery
Animal Husbandry
Crafts work
Vegetable vending etc.

These industries create employment for the

whole population.

Loan products
Micro loans for health, enterprises and health
Interest: Reducing balance method
Loans are sanctioned to enable members to

pursue income generating activities

Borrowers and their spouse are covered
under insurance
They are not fined for late payments( no
penalty)
Weekly / fortnightly/ monthly instalments
based on choice
Loan granted without a collateral

 Pension Services
Remittance services: International money

transfer services brought closer to the homes

of those whose families are abroad. Tie up
with Western Union in August 2010
These are the programs operational through
microfinance

Targeting the Hard Core Poor

Grant based program
Objective- Uplift them

to mainstream finance
Formation of village
committees that act as
guardians after the
completion of the
program
They have received
grants from various
associations
( International)

Other Programs
Employing the unemployed program
Bandhan health program
Bandhan livelihood program
Axis bank Bandhan holistic assistance

Future Plans (Prognosis)

Pan India coverage to reach out to the

unreached.
Diversifying/modifying products according to
the clients need.
Achieve the vision statement.

Recently the Bandhan receives

final clearance from RBI to set up
universal bank.