Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA)

Programme Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Rural

Management)
Batch PGDM(RM)-42
Academic Year 2022-23
Course Level Basic
Course Code FIM
Area Finance Accounting Costing
Term VI
Title of the Course Financial Inclusion and Microfinance
Credits 1.5
Number of Section(s) 2
Type Elective
Prerequisites NA
Course Instructor Prof. Sunil Sangwan
Email ID sunil@irma.ac.in
Contact Number 7602631603

Course Description:
In the present context, financial inclusion (FI) has emerged as the predominant vehicle for
addressing several development related challenges. In the United Nation’s Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) of 2030, FI has been explicitly included. FI offers the scope to
include both the sides of divides (social, digital, and other forms) and is considered as a
prerequisite to improving the standard of living of poor, disadvantaged, and vulnerable
groups such as farmers, rural micro and small enterprises, and other weaker sections and
low-income groups. Over the years, the microfinance lending through SHG-BLP (Self Help
Group Bank linkage programme) and the Microfinance Institutions has emerged as a most
feasible approach for FI and inclusive development primarily through the women
participation. Underpinning this, it seems pertinent to comprehend the dynamics of
financial inclusion and the microfinance sector.

Course Objectives:
1. To understand the financial inclusion, exclusion of poor/ masses in financial
system, informal market dependency, microfinance and micro-enterprises
development for poor and masses for inclusive development processes in India and
work towards attaining national goal of poverty reduction and SDGs.
2. To expose with the Microfinance products as innovative product, a tool for
development approach and to understand the delivery mechanism of financial
products and services through banking channels & MFI.
3. To understand the financial and social performance analysis of microfinance,
focusing on outreach and sustainability and tool for addressing poverty issues and
impact on livelihood improvement

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 Alignment of the Course Objectives with the Programme
Financial inclusion plays a critical role in socio-economic development of the financial
excluded population which primarily comprised of the poor, disadvantaged and vulnerable
groups such as farmers, rural micro and small enterprises, and other weaker sections and
low-income groups. In this perspective, the course is in sync to the overall vision of the
Institute and the programme.

Learning Outcome:
To meet the growing demand for professionals with microfinance knowledge for
Banks/MFIs and Government Departments, the course intends to equip participants to
have a clear understanding of the concept for socio-economic development need for
prosperity of poor/masses.

Pedagogy / Teaching Methodology:

The pedagogy would consist of an appropriate mix of lectures, policy briefs, research
articles and discussions.

Evaluation:

Component *Weightage %
Class Participation 10%
Quiz 20%
Group Assignment 20%
End Term 50%
TOTAL 100
*No single component should have a weightage of more than 50 percent of evaluation in a 1.5-
credit course and more than 35 percent in a 3-credit course.

Details/Instructions for Evaluation: Nil

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TEXTBOOKS: NIL

ADDITIONAL BOOKS / READINGS:

TAU Material
RBI and NABARD policy circulars/guidelines
Microfinance in India – NABARD Publications on progress of Microfinance
MFIN & Sa-Dhan Publications on progress of MFIs
Research Articles

SCHEDULE OF SESSIONS:

Session No. 1 Measuring the Poverty and Assessment the Nature of Poor

Session No. 2 & 3 Financial Inclusion: Policies & Strategies - Institutional Initiatives in
India

Session No. 3 & 4 Micro Finance – Innovation in India: Policies, Programmes &
Perspective

Session No. 5 Repayment Mechanisms in Microfinance Lending

Session No. 6 Regulatory Mechanisms for Microfinance

Session No. 6-9 Social and Financial Performance Analysis of Microfinance

Institutions

Session No. 10 Research Articles Discussion

<For 1.5 credit course, 10 sessions will be there. For 3.0 credit course, there would be 20
sessions>

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