NIRD

Centre for Rural Credit and Development Banking (CRCDB)
Email: bkt@nird.gov.in
GENESIS: Banks continue to provide the energy and the power in driving the economic growth and credit is being made available to various sectors of the economy. However, allocation of credit to various sectors is uneven and the time has come for banks to rebalance their portfolio. In the present fast growing economy, banks have to ensure that sectors, which are denied credit such as the vast rural economy, are brought into immediate consideration. In this scenario, the NIRD has rightly judged the importance of Rural Credit and has established this dedicated Centre for Rural Credit and Development Banking (CRCDB) in April 2008 to undertake training, research and consulting activities relating to rural credit delivery and poverty alleviation through financial inclusion and credit linkages. OBJECTIVES: To sensitize the Rural Bankers and Rural Development functionaries about the importance of micro credit as an effective tool towards poverty alleviation strategies. To enhance the skill and knowledge level of the Rural Bankers and Rural Development functionaries on creating sustainable credit linkages through micro-finance and inclusive growth strategy. ACTIVITIES: The following thrust areas are identified to carry out applied and action research exclusively in the field of Rural Credit and Rural Banking. Micro-finance and Credit to SHGs: Credit Appraisals Credit Linkages Credit Delivery Credit Recovery Financial Inclusion: 'No-frills' Accounts Financial Counseling Banks Performances Customer Relationships TRAINING: Keeping focus on effective management of credit delivery to the underprivileged and to meet the growing demands of various concerned agencies, the following training programmes are proposed to be offered by the Centre. National & International Training Programmes on Micro-finance and Financial Inclusion; Customized Training Programmes for SHG members and SHG Federations functionaries; Specialized Training Programmes for Rural Development functionaries to sharpen their skills; Training for attitudinal changes among Rural Bankers and other credit officials; Effective training towards successful implementation of Government sponsored schemes, etc. RESEARCH: It is envisaged to carry out very high quality research to enhance the image of the credit institutions, which are often misunderstood despite carrying out yeoman services for the society. It is expected to conduct action research in the field of Rural Credit and Rural Banking to suggest remedial steps to the regulators to implement necessary steps to direct the flow of the credit in the desired direction. Presently two ongoing research projects of Reserve Bank of India are taken up by the Centre which includes "Implementation of 100% Financial Inclusion" in the district of Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh and district of Ganjam in Orissa. CONSULTANCY: The Centre has planned to provide effective consultancy to Reserve Bank of India, NABARD, Commercial Banks, Ministry of Rural Development, Banking Division of Ministry of Finance, Banking Monitoring Organizations and other Stakeholders who are seriously working for augmentation of credit flow to the rural poor and towards reduction of poverty in particular. It has also been planned to provide consultancy to some International Organizations like Asian Development Banks, World Bank, and other organizations working in African and other developing countries on Micro-finance, financial Inclusion, rural credit and so on. BRIEF PROFILE OF FACULTY MEMBERS: Prof (Dr) Bijay Kumar Swain is the Professor and Head of this Centre. He has obtained several qualifications. The important ones include M.A, M.Phil, Ph.D (JNU), MBA, CAIIB, PGDTD, DBM, DDE, DRD, DCO, DIB, DTM, PGDPM, PGDM, and PGDPFM. Prof. Swain was awarded with UGC Fellowship during his research programme. He was also the recipient of C.H.Bhaba Research Fellowship from the Indian Banks Association, Mumbai for his pioneering work on "Customer Satisfaction Index: Methodology and Construction", which was implemented by all the Public Sector Banks under instruction from the Government of India. After joining as a Probationary Officer in the State Bank of India, he served the Bank for more than 15 years in various senior managerial positions. Subsequently, he worked as the Joint Director of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India, New Delhi for around seven years. He was a Professor in the School of Management, KIIT University for more than three years. He has completed several Diploma programmes in his area of studies. Presently he is the Professor & Head in the Centre for Rural Credit & Development Banking. Prof. Swain has published six books and around 56 articles in various reputed journals including IBA Bulletins, Professional Banker, CS Bulletins and other reputed journals of various professional bodies. At present he is focusing on the domain of Rural Banking, Micro-Finance, Financial Inclusion and Rural Credit.
Faculty Profile