Includes bibliographical references and index.

Overview : despair to hope -- Self-help group bank linkage programme : early signs of a new thrust -- Microfinance institutions : slow recovery from a disaster -- Andhra pradesh : ream turns nightmare -- Investment climate : fairweather partners -- Social performance management : beyond responsible finance and customer protection -- Policy environment and the regulation : hard times ahead -- National rural livelihoods mission : will it go beyond finance? -- Financial inclusion : march of the banks -- Global trends in microfinance -- Future : beginning again? -- Appendix -- Bibliography -- Index -- About the author.