Aloysius Prakash Fernandez | |
|---|---|
| Born | Karnataka, India |
| Occupation(s) | Economist, social worker |
| Known for | Father of SHG Movement |
| Awards | Padmashree Caritas India Jubilee 2000 Award |
Aloysius Prakash Fernandez known as Father of SHG Movement [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] is an Indian economist, social worker and the First Chairman of the NABARD Financial Services Limited (NABFINS), [7] [2] a National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) subsidiary, formed with the participation of several banks in India. [8] Considered by many as a pioneer of microfinance and Self Help Group concept in India, [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] he was the executive director and is the member secretary of MYRADA, [15] [16] a non governmental organization working for the eradication of poverty, gender equality and social development. [17] [18] [19] [20] [21]
Fernandez, born in Karnataka, [16] secured a post graduate degree in Arts from Central University of Karnataka and obtained advanced diplomas from the University of Louvain, Belgium on Sociology and Research Methodology and from Oxford University [16] on Development Studies.[ citation needed ] His early career was with Caritas India and then abroad, with the World Bank and the Canadian International Development Agency before his return to Bengaluru in 1982. [7] Besides holding the chair of NABFINS, [7] he is the secretary of Myrada, [22] executive director of The Myrada Davinson Training Centre [23] and the Chairman of Sanghamithra Rural Financial Services. [11] He is known to be a prolific writer [24] [25] and is credited with several publications. [26] [27] [28] Fernandez was honored by the Government of India, in 2000, with the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri. [29] He also received the Caritas India Jubilee 2000 award the same year. [30]
