KSRM organized the 3rd National Rural Management Conclave on 5th February, 2022. The theme of the conclave was ‘Inclusive Finance – An Enabler of SDGs and Civil Society Organisations in Advancement of SDGs’. Delivering the keynote address, Shri Jagadananda, Standing Committee (CSO) Member of NITI Aayog and Mentor & Co-Founder of CYSD spoke on the drivers of change like universal basic income, localised economy, independent and confident youth. He also reinforced the important role of civil society in terms of facilitating, connecting and influencing.
The panel members of the discussion on ‘Inclusive Finance – An Enabler of SDGs’ were Mr. Vivek Tiwari, Vice Chairperson, Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN) & MD, Satya Microcapital Ltd.; Mr. Vineet Chattree, MD, Svatantra Micro Housing Finance, Director – Svatantra Microfin Pvt. Ltd., Sr President, Aditya Birla Group; Mr. Shirish Chandra Panda, Business Head, Microfinance, Tata Capital; Mr. Ajit Kumar Sabat, Vice President- East & West, Muthoot Microfin Ltd.; and Mr. Tharakeswar G, Co-founder & Head, Financial Services, D Vara E- Registry. The panel discussed how financial inclusion is included either directly or indirectly in all the SDGs. They spoke about the major shifts in the microfinance sector, significance and the impact of the sector. They also emphasized that the key areas are trust, touch and technology when it comes to micro finance. The panel members also shared about the learning opportunity in the sector for the students.
The panel members of the discussion on ‘Civil Society Organisations in Advancement of SDGs’ were Ms. Subrataa Chakraborty, ILRG India Country Director, Tetra Tech ARD; Mr. Liby Johnson, Executive Director, Gram Vikas; Mr. Satyan Mishra, CEO, Drishtee; Mr. Ravindra A, Director, WASSAN; and Mr. Anish Kumar, Managing Director, Co-lead, Transforming Rural India Foundation. They spoke about the relevance of partnership with academia where the worldviews are actually built. However one of the biggest challenges in civil society is that the young are not interested in this space. The panel urged that it is the students, the youth who can be an agent of change and make a better world where people can live with dignity and the society is equitable and just.