Monthly status as on December  2011

  • States - 5
  • Districts - 23
  • Branches - 217
  • Municipalities - 795
  • Villages - 2,533
  • Beneficiaries - 3,95,760
  • Staff - 432

News

        
The expansion of innovative pro-poor products in the underserved areas
Bandhan has organized a workshop titled The expansion of innovative pro-poor products in the underserved areas, in collaboration with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
The proposed workshop was held at Kolkata for SIDBI's Partner MFIs on September 17, 2009 at Swabhumi, Kolkata.
Since 2006, Bandhan is engaged in credit plus interventions, aiming for a holistic development of poor. Presently its intervention areas are health, education, livelihoods, skill development and a program aimed exclusively for the poorest of the poor section.
The workshop has explored the various credit plus interventions undertaken by the organization. It will serve as an experience sharing forum for all participants. Read more   Download    View
First batch of hard core poor beneficiaries graduate to mainstream microfinance
The first batch of 132 hard core poor beneficiaries from Murshidabad, West Bengal graduates to mainstream microfinance in June 2009. Two years back, they belonged to the poorest section amongst the population with a few or no asset base, highly vulnerable to any shocks and mainly dependent on wage labor, begging etc. They also lacked the confidence to avail and repay a microfinance loan.
They were identified as the targeted beneficiaries of CUF-THP program in early 2007 through Participatory Rural Appraisal and later were given grant support in the form of assets. Simultaneously, other supports in the form of consumption stipend, health support, counseling, basic literacy and numeracy, social awareness were also provided.
Within 24 months, economic and social base of these 132 beneficiaries have enlarged and they have acquired a confidence level to enhance their income base through a microfinance loan. Each of them has acquired loan for various income generation purposes like agriculture, livestock, small business etc.
        
Bandhan Health Program (BHP) travels to most economically deprived places of West Bengal
Realizing the importance of health intervention, Bandhan decided to extend its support of health services to a greater percentage of the poor community. In its pursuit, Bandhan had expanded its health program to five branches situated in Murshidabad, which is one of the most backward districts of West Bengal. At present, Bandhan Health Program is operative in 10 branches spread across 2 districts of West Bengal.
BHP's primary goal is to reduce the health expenditure of poor families and to ensure easy accessibility to health care services available at governmental and non-governmental levels in a sustainable manner.
Poor community in these new branches will receive health education imparted through health forums (at village level) and further reinforced at the individual level through household visits. The health team will also refer the poor to government health care services and also private doctors, as needed. Certain commonly used health products will also be distributed to the village community.

Bandhan tackles Unemployment scenario in West Bengal
We are happy to inform you all that Bandhan has collaborated with HSBC Bank and Tally India Private Limited under the Scheme for Skill Development for the Registered Job seekers for tackling the unemployment scenario in West Bengal.
Under the scheme, potential beneficiaries registered with the Directorate of Employment, Government of West Bengal will receive a course called Certificate in Computerized Accounting delivered by Tally Academies spread all across West Bengal. Upon the completion of the course, potential beneficiaries can apply for jobs in various concerned sectors.

The program titled Employing the Unemployed Program has been piloted in Malda and Uttar Dinajpur districts of West Bengal in June 2009.

Presently, the program is running across four districts of West Bengal with an outreach to 76 beneficiaries.