K. Paul Thomas, Managing Director and Mereena Paul, Chief HR, ESAF Microfinance participated in the Microcredit Summit 2013, held at Philippine International Convention Centre Manila from October 9-11, 2013. The theme of the summit was Partnerships against Poverty: Finance, Government, Business and Civil Society. Government officials, private sector representatives, microfinance stakeholders and other development practitioners shared their knowledge and experiences on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and expressed their concerns on the challenges of working to eradicate extreme poverty.
ESAF was one among the Organizations selected by the Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry for implementing MGPSY scheme in five GCC Countries. ESAF would launch its operation with the support of facilitating agencies. Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana(MGPSY), a pension and life insurance fund scheme for blue-collar Indian workers in the UAE was formally launched by the Union Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Shri.Vayalar Ravi in Dubai on October 28, 2013. The scheme encourages expat employees to build up savings that can be used for their resettlement on their return to India. It will also contribute to their pension and provide a life insurance cover against natural death during the period of coverage.
The scheme will cover five million overseas blue collar Indian workers who have the Emigration Clearance Required (ECR) category passports in 17 countries. ECR passports are issued to those workers who have not passed Grade 10. Around 65 per cent of more than two million Indians in the UAE are blue collar workers and most of them are in the ECR category.
|Last Updated on Wednesday, 27 November 2013 18:05|
ESAF participated in a national seminar titled 'Financial Literacy towards Financial Inclusion' organized by Sri Vyasa NSS College, Wadakkanchery, Thrissur, in association with The Institute of Company Secretaries of India, Thrissur Chapter on October 10 & 11, 2013. The seminar was attended by research scholars, academicians, faculty members and post graduate students. George Thomas, Director Operations, ESAF Microfinance delivered a lecture on Microfinance and Financial Inclusion in the seminar.
|Last Updated on Wednesday, 27 November 2013 18:04|
ESAF participated in a national seminar titled 'The Contours of Indian Banking' organized by Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur on Oct 23 & 24, 2013. K. Paul Thomas, Chairman & Managing Director, ESAF Microfinance presented a paper on the topic 'Role of Microfinance in achieving Financial Inclusion'. The seminar was attended by close to 300 delegates who represented banks, academia, research programs and student bodies. George Thomas, Director Operations, Jojo Anto, Management Trainee and Syama K., Junior Executive, HR, ESAF Microfinance also participated in the seminar.
|Last Updated on Thursday, 28 November 2013 11:08|
A meeting of ESAF Livable Cities Network was organized at YMCA Hall, Thrissur on October 18, 2013. Discussions were centered on the problems faced by pedestrians and the ill state of parks in Thrissur. Jacob Samuel, Head-Livable Cities program presided over the function. Sandhya Suresh, Senior Manager, R&D, Jinu Varghese, Programme Officer and Bibin Jose, Project Coordinator also spoke on the occasion. Individuals representing Schools, Colleges, Police, Resident Associations and Thrissur Municipal Corporation participated in the meeting and shared their views.
|Last Updated on Thursday, 28 November 2013 11:07|
ESAF observed international day of the girl child on Oct 12, 2013. The theme of the day was “Innovating for girls’ education”. K. Paul Thomas, Managing Director, ESAF Microfinance said that ESAF was keen on observing international girl child day right from Oct 11, 2012, the date announced by the UN to annually observe such a day. He added that under the present social circumstances prevailed in the country observing the day was more meaningful and firmly in line with the vision of the Organization.
A special awareness class for the staff was organized at the HO. Jacob Samuel, Head Livable Cities made a presentation on the theme and led a prayer session focusing on the theme. Posters were displayed in all the office buildings and prayer cards were distributed to all the staff.
|Last Updated on Thursday, 28 November 2013 11:05|
Under the leadership of ESAF Livable Cities Team, ESAF observed International Walk to School Day by organizing a walk to school programme at Bethlehem High School, Thrissur, on October 09, 2013. Najeeb, ASI, Mannuthy, flagged off the rally started from Ollukkara, Thrissur. A seminar was also organized on the topic ‘The Importance of Walking and Road Safety’. M. C. Biju, Police Representative was the resource person for the seminar. Jacob Samuel, Head Livable Cities Project, Beena George, Project Manager, Jinu Varghese, Project Officer and Bibin Jose, Project Co-ordinator also spoke on the occasion. Walk to school day is observed internationally to encourage school students to develop healthy habits like walking to school instead of relying on vehicles.
ESAF Microfinance participated in the Kerala Finance Conclave 2013 organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), at Hotel Taj Gateway, Kochi on October 23, 2013. The theme of the conclave was 'Changing Markets & Regulatory Landscapes – Emerging Industry Models’, and provided a platform for companies across the spectrum of financial services to present and discuss their concerns, challenges and growth stories. Comprehensive discussions were held on topics ranging from business models to regulatory landscape. Senior officials from RBI, SEBI, AMFI, IRDA and also from other departments of State and Central Governments joined the deliberations. K. Paul Thomas, Chairman & Managing Director, ESAF Microfinance was invited to deliver a lecture on ‘Microfinance: Regulatory Challenges and Gaps’, which was well received by the participants. George Thomas, Director Operations and Padmakumar K., Company Secretary, ESAF Microfinance also participated in the function.
ESAF participated in the second Employers Conference organized by Indian Overseas Affairs Ministry at Dubai International Financial Centre on October 27 & 28, 2013. The conference provided an opportunity for the employers from overseas, especially the GCC countries, to debate and understand the concerns related to employment of Indian workers. The Conference was also a platform for the Government of India to bring officials from both the Central and State Governments to express their views and interact with the overseas employers. Roy K. Alex, GM- Strategic Initiatives, ESAF Microfinance participated in the conference.
|Last Updated on Wednesday, 27 November 2013 17:58|
Sandhya Suresh, Sr. Manager, R & D, ESAF Microfinance, represented the Organization in the Expert Panel Discussion held at Paris from October 7 - 9, 2013. A fifteen member expert panel comprising of network representatives from Pakistan and Latin America participated in the function. Members from SPTF Steering Committee, Director Smart Campaign, Director-Truelift, Project Officer - Grameen Credit Agricole and Project Officer, CEO Working Group also participated in the meeting. The primary objective of the meeting was to develop a core Social Performance Audit Tool that could measure social performance vis-a-vis Universal Standards.
|Last Updated on Wednesday, 27 November 2013 17:57|
Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN) has awarded ESAF microfinance an official seal of transparency in recognition to the Organization’s commitment to transparent pricing for the year 2013. K. Paul Thomas, Chairman and Managing Director, ESAF Microfinance said that this was a significant achievement and the Organization was proud to uphold its commitment towards consumer protection and responsible microfinance. He added that along with the Organization this was a moment of pride for all the funders, partners and clients of ESAF Microfinance. The Transparent Pricing Initiative in India had published standardized pricing data from 82 microfinance providers, representing loans given to over 27 million active borrowers.
|Last Updated on Wednesday, 27 November 2013 17:51|
ESAF society launched Arogyamithra in partnership with Microcredit Summit Campaign, a US based Non-profit Organization. The health awareness project is intended to integrate microfinance with health awareness services by focusing on non communicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension. Selected sangam members of ESAF will be trained to act as Arogyamithra health workers, where they will be delivering health classes and organizing home based blood sugar and BP check ups in Palakkad district.
|Last Updated on Wednesday, 23 October 2013 19:07|
ESAF observed World Car Free Day on Sep 22, 2013. As part of the event, a signature campaign was organized at the premises of Mathrubhumi daily by ESAF Livable Cities team to create awareness about the importance of car free day. More than 100 employees from ESAF participated in the program. Apart from this, Awareness hoardings were displayed at different locations in Thrissur city. The public was also sensitized through press releases and radio announcements.
|Last Updated on Wednesday, 23 October 2013 19:05|
In order to encourage reading habits among rural children, ESAF partnered with Mangalam daily to promote 'Aksharajyothi' project. In a special assembly organized at Government High School, Mudapallur, K. Paul Thomas, Managing Director, ESAF Microfinance inaugurated the programme by handing over a copy of the newspaper to the school leader. Biju E. J., Regional Manager, K. J. Biju., Area Manager and Sundaran C., Credit Officer, ESAF Microfinance also participated in the function. ESAF sponsored 5 copies of Mangalam newspaper each for 10 schools in Palakkad and Thrissur districts.
ESAF Corporate Office celebrated Onam 2013, in a colourful ceremony organized at Cooperative Society Hall, Mannuthy on September 10, 2013. T. S. Anantharaman, Director, Catholic Syrian Bank inaugurated the programme. K. Paul Thomas, Managing Director, ESAF Microfinance presided over the function. George Thomas, Director Operations, Jacob Samuel, Director Programs and A. Akbar, Strategic Advisor also spoke on the occasion. While a sumptuous Onasadya added taste, cultural programs like Thiruvathirakali, Onam fusion and Onappattu added color to the celebrations.