A Workshop on Development Finance

Understanding State of Indian Economy, Strength and Challenges of Development Finance and Financial Institutions

November 8-11, 2019

Background: The Indian Economy as is widely reported is facing serious problems with growth slowing down to a six year low of about five percent.  According to IMF, the reasons could be attributed to weakness in non-bank financial companies and corporate and environmental regulatory uncertainty.  Many of the eminent economists have commented that the slowdown is prolonged and is both structural and cyclical and we are indeed facing an economic crisis.

The plethora of measures termed as reforms starting from Demonetization, GST and non-recognition of state of economy has resulted in massive unemployment, job loss and reduction in growth.  The transfer of RBI reserves to the budget to the tune of 1.76 lakh crores, which was unprecedented for shortfalls in revenue collection have done little to induce confidence in the economy or spur investments and growth.

The government have come up with other reforms including Massive merger of banks which offers no solution than facilitating corporate loans at a large level.  The existing crisis in banking and non-banking sectors including high NPAs in the banking sector and fraudulent financial transactions in non-banking sector such as in IL &FS have contributed to this slowing down of the economy.

The role of finances and financial institutions have generally been overlooked by civil society organizations whether they work on energy, climate or infrastructure.  Many of the projects which are being challenged by people in the ground are financed by either national finance organizations or International Finance organizations.

About the workshop:  The four day workshop will systematically look into the state of India’s economy and looks at banking and non-banking sector particularly as to the policies which have contributed to the slow down and how these policies are affecting the common people in their ordinary life as we could see with the job losses and slowing down of the economy.

The workshop will help participants understand, critically evaluate  institutions such as Banking and non-banking institutions, the role they play in development and how certain reforms such as FRDI, Bank Mergers, IBC etc. are impacting the  sector.  Furthermore, the workshop will inquire the role of International Financial institutions into the changing landscape of financial reforms.

The workshop will provide a conceptual framework to understand the sector and finances and equip the participants to respond to these challenges apart from making linkages with likeminded people and organizations working in finance to challenge the domination of financial sector.

The workshop will deal with the following:

1. The state of Indian Economy
2. The challenges of banking and non-Banking sector
3. Sources of finance and Role and Influence of International Financial Institutions
4. Energy finance, climate finance and Infrastructure Financing
5. Financial Accountability and alternatives

Who is this workshop for: The workshop will be useful for groups / activists who work on issues of energy, climate and infrastructure to understand the financial underpinning of the same.  The workshop is also open to concerned citizens, students and academicians.

Methodology: The module takes an interdisciplinary approach and the sessions are non-technical. No prior training/reading in economics/finance is required. The sessions will be interactive in nature, and will be followed by Q&A and discussions. A set of readings will be provided in advance, reading it in advance will help students follow the sessions better.

Resource Persons: Leading experts, practitioners and campaigners will be leading different sessions. Dr Dinesh Abrol ( Professor, JNU), Soumya Dutta (Leading climate campaigner and South Asian People’s Action on Climate Crisis SAPACC ), Devidas Tuljapurkar (All India Bank Employees Association), Benny Kuruvilla, (Focus on Global South), Joe Athialy, Priya Dharshini, Gaurav Dwivedi (Centre for Financial Accountability) will lead the session among others.

Language:  A mix of English and Hindi. The mode of interaction shall involve lectures, group work, group discussions, film and documentary screening.

Program Contribution:  We hope that participants would contribute an amount of Rs. 3500 for 4 days towards workshop expenses, inclusive of all onsite workshop costs: boarding, lodging, and all the materials used in the workshop.  Need based partial waivers are available; We have a very limited number of partial waivers so please apply for a waiver only if you really need it. Do remember that there may be others who need it more than you.

Dates and Venue: 8th to 11th November, 2019. Sambhaavnaa Institute, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh

Contact: For more information please Whatsapp or call Shashank – 889 422 7954 or email: programs@sambhaavnaa.org

Getting to Sambhaavnaa: http://www.sambhaavnaa.org/contact/how-to-reach-us/

Organised by: Centre for Financial Accountability – www.cenfa.org in collaboration with Sambhaavnaa Institute.

Please fill the application given here: http://www.sambhaavnaa.org/programs/a-workshop-on-development-finance-nov-8-11-2019/