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Discussion about entry

Banking without Barriers
by Sunil Oberoi | Jul 18, 2008
174 reads | 4 Comments

This is discussion about Banking without Barriers.

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by Kaylena Bray | Sep 12, 2008
 

Dear Sunil,

Thank your for submitting your entry!

The Changemakers team is excited about how this initiative “humanizes” banking as way to better serve the poor and marginalized. We believe your idea has good intention and tackles an important issue: entrenched classism. Looking at the development of your project, how do you plan to implement your ideas?

Since the judges spend more time reading the entry form than the comments, please also update your entry in addition to responding to our questions and other comments. This will provide the panel of expert judges with the most comprehensive explanation.

Thanks so much! We look forward to learning more.

Best wishes,

The Changemakers Team

----------
Kaylena Bray
Ashoka's Changemakers

Thanks!

by Sunil Oberoi | Oct 02, 2008
 

Dear Kaylena

Thanks for your comment. I apologize for the delayed response, but I had been travelling in remote parts of India and have just returned to "civilization"!

As you have rightly pointed out, I aim at tackling the 'classism' and the inherent biases in the banking system that keep out the poorest of the poor.

Regarding implementation, all that a bank needs to do is to come forward, and my team will take them around the most marginalized communities in India, many families in which could have had a better life only if they had obtained a loan as small as Indian Rupees 10000 (USD 220).

All that bank managements need is the will to see how poverty can dehumanize. We'll do the rest.

Regards
Sunil

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by Ritesh Agrawal | Oct 03, 2008
 

Greeting for Team SIGMA , XLRI

We believe that your plan has a noble idea behind it. But we have some apprehensions about the plans

1) How do you motivate the bankers (employees ) and especially the spouses to participate in the cause ? One might suggest that the bank can force its employees to do so, but then that would be forcing people to work for a social cause which is itself meaningless

thanks

Mithun Pandey

Team SIGMA
XLRI JAMSHEDPUR

Motivation

by Sunil Oberoi | Oct 05, 2008
 

Hi Mithun

Thanks for your comment. I have never said that bank employees or their spouses should be forced into this. What I have tried to say is that with banks and financial institutions crying themselves hoarse about their corporate social responsibility and inclusive growth etc, it is time they came forward themselves and willingly participate in such a program.

Maybe youngsters from institutes like XLRI, IIMs etc could take the lead and interact with banks to motivate them. Or maybe, why don't students from such institutes themselves show the way by participating?

Regards
Sunil