Traditional Financial Inclusion and Microfinance in the Context of Northeastern India

The northeast region of India with its distinctive ethos and sensibilities is not always receptive or conducive for successful introduction and adoption of many developmental intervention models being implemented in other regions of the country. What have been successful instead are those developmental intervention models that have been evolved and suit the unique needs and requirements of the people of the region. This aspect is often forgotten by developmental planners in the country.

Based on this premise the paper cautions the exponents and prime-movers of the microfinance movement in the region to therefore evolve a model keeping in view this aspect while extending its reach within the Northeast. As an example the paper high-lights the reasons behind the successful implementation of an internationally aided development intervention programme from the region, which has intelligently introduced important aspects of Northeastern lifestyles into its programs from the conception to the implementation stages. It suggests a similar line of approach to make the microfinance movement a success in the Northeastern region of the country.