It was a routine meeting with some visiting Bank officials to have a look at our solution for technology leveraged Financial Inclusion. Having quickly finished the primary round of introduction about the company and its activities and the present clients, the discussion took off in real earnest to showcase how we have addressed the needs of availability, scalability and flexibility of the solution. It transpired that the visiting officials were looking at Inclusion only from the point of view of Credit Portfolio enhancement and not Inclusion. It is one of the most vital points obstructing the aim of Financial Inclusion. For ages, people have been kept away from the organised Financial Services so that they can remain in the control of the money lending hawks. And now, when there is a talk of Including the people for Structured Financial Services, there is a new avatar of the money lending hawks who are trying hijack the campaign to suit their ends of enhancing Credit Portfolios. It seems the wizards of Credit Risk Management have overlooked the fact that for innumerable excluded people taking credit is a risk rather than an opportunity. In these circumstances, the first need is to build an adequate confidence in the target customers on the system and then educate them how to convert a credit opportunity into a gainful activity and eliminate the risks involved. What does the structured financial system do to help the customer reduce his risk and the perception of the risk in taking a credit facility.
Labels: Financial Inclusion