Vadodara, Feb 19 (KNN) Eyeing to facilitate Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in financing, Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) has entered into an agreement with National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD) and Bankers Institute of Rural Development (BIRD).

The agreement has been signed to undertake collaborative research work and capacity building in mutually agreed areas for the purpose of sustainable and inclusive development of rural India.

Under the agreement, IRMA, NABARD and BIRD will undertake collaborative research projects based on long-term perspective in different areas of Financial Inclusion, Business Correspondent/Business Facilitator (BC/BF) model, Rupay KCC, women empowerment through SHG model, digital financial inclusion, financing MSMEs etc.

The research projects would take into account both behavioural and design-related constraints hindering financial inclusion across India and identify areas of collaborative research with a policy orientation.

NABARD and IRMA will mutually form a monitoring committee for pursuing and monitoring the activities under the agreement.

IRMA will address the financial inclusion issues and initiate capacity-building of different stakeholders by providing knowledge support, undertaking policy advocacy, among other activities.

BIRD, in association with IRMA, will offer joint Management Development Programmes (MDPs) which will draw faculty members from both the institutes.

Apart from a faculty exchange programme, BIRD will also organize Rural Immersion programmes for IRMA students at BIRD and NABARD Regional Offices/Head Office for better understanding of the rural realities. (KNN/YV)