Kolkata, 10 December 2025 :
The city of Kolkata today witnessed a landmark gathering of India’s microfinance leadership as the Association of Microfinance Institutions – West Bengal (AMFI-WB) hosted the 10th Eastern India Microfinance Summit 2025 at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium, Alipore. Organized in association with MFIN and Sa-Dhan, and supported by Equifax as Knowledge Partner and M2i as Research Partner, the summit drew an impressive participation of policymakers, industry leaders, financial institutions, and development practitioners.
This year’s theme, “Reimagining Microfinance towards Viksit Bharat,” highlighted the sector’s pivotal role in India’s aspiration to become a developed nation by 2047. With inclusive growth at its core, the summit focused on strengthening financial access for low-income households and women borrowers—groups central to India’s developmental vision.
Over the past eighteen months, the microfinance sector has faced significant challenges, including repayment stress, over-indebtedness concerns, and lingering pandemic-related impacts. Despite these hurdles, the industry has displayed remarkable resilience, aligning rapidly with evolving regulatory frameworks introduced by the Government of India and the Reserve Bank of India. Institutions have enhanced their governance practices, strengthened operational systems, and adopted more responsible lending norms.
Three Pillars for a Future-Ready Microfinance Sector
The summit emphasized three core pillars shaping the sector’s future trajectory:
- Recovery and Resilience
MFIs are steadily rebuilding momentum after disruptions caused by COVID-19, workforce attrition, and portfolio stress. Improved staff capacity, stronger operational systems, and renewed trust among borrower communities are driving sectoral recovery. - Protecting Borrowers
With a stronger emphasis on transparency, ethical lending, and client protection mechanisms, microfinance institutions are reinforcing their foundational responsibility to safeguard borrowers. Guardrails/Sankalp frameworks are helping ensure credit is delivered responsibly and meaningfully enhances household resilience. - Inspiring Investor Confidence
The sector’s strengthened regulatory clarity and improved governance continue to build confidence among investors. With rising institutional stability, microfinance remains an attractive and credible segment within India’s financial services landscape.
Key Discussions at the Summit
Inaugural Session Highlights
The inaugural session focused on:
• Aligning microfinance with the national Viksit Bharat 2047 vision
• Boosting women’s economic empowerment
• Integrating savings, insurance, and social protection for resilient households
• Understanding future policy landscapes for a mature, responsible microfinance ecosystem
Session Highlights
Session 1: Strengthening Trust and Borrower Protection through Guardrails/Sankalp
The discussion emphasized rebuilding trust—the cornerstone of microfinance—through stringent compliance and responsible lending, ensuring improved client well-being.
Session 2: Re-Designing Microfinance for Viksit Bharat
Industry leaders explored how the sector must evolve beyond conventional models by integrating technology, reimagining product offerings, modernizing HR systems, and enhancing service quality.
Session 3: Building a Safe Credit Ecosystem through Shared Responsibility
With rising debt concerns amid rapid retail lending, experts called for a collaborative responsibility model involving regulators, lenders, fintech players, and consumers to safeguard low-income households.
Summit Conclusion
The 10th Eastern India Microfinance Summit 2025 served as a significant platform for dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and strategic collaboration. It set the tone for building a robust, responsible, and future-ready microfinance ecosystem aligned with India’s journey toward Viksit Bharat.
