CAB CALLING January-March, 2008
research and experimentation of relevance to both
CAB News
During the January-March 2008 quarter, the College
conducted 40 programmes for 1170 participants. The
average participation per programme was 29 as compared
with 33 in the previous quarter. Important events,
programmes, and developments that took place during the
quarter are highlighted below:
CONFERENCE / SEMINAR / WORKSHOP
A Seminar on Emerging Issues in Urban Cooperative Banks
was conducted with an objective to provide a forum for all
the stakeholders to exchange views and address concerns
for facilitating development of a healthy and vibrant UCB
sector without losing sight of the prudential requirements.
53 participants - Chairmen, Directors, and CEOs of UCBs,
representatives from NAFCUB, RCS from various states -
attended the seminar. The keynote address was delivered
by Shri A. K. Khound, Chief General Manager, UBD, RBI.
Shri D. Krishna, Chief Executive, National Federation of
Urban Cooperative Banks and Credit Societies Ltd.
(NAFCUB), and CEOs of some major UCBs presented
papers. The major themes deliberated during the seminar
were (i) consolidation as a route for non-disruptive exit of
weak banks, (ii) corporate governance, (iii) new business
strategies, and (iv) technological developments in UCB
Sector.
A Conference on Micro Finance was held at the College in
association with the Institute for Financial Management and
Research (IFMR), Chennai and with support from Union
Bank of India with the objective to draw lessons and share
learnings from some on-going research experiments and
microfinance practices and identify areas for future
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practitioners and policy makers. The conference was
targeted at the In-Charges of Micro Finance / Priority Sector
departments in commercial banks, executives of MFIs/
NGOs and regulators, policy makers and other stakeholders
in the microfinance sector and attended by 70 participants.
There were three technical sessions which dealt with (i)
Improving Microfinance Product Design, (ii) Micro-credit
Plus - Combining Micro-credit with Other Services and (iii)
Microfinance - Emerging Issues and presentations were
made by researchers from Harvard University, Yale
University, MIT and IIM, Kolkata and practitioners in the field
of micro finance.
The First International Workshop on Off- Site Surveillance
System was conducted for the senior officers of Central
Banks from SAARC and ASEAN countries and attended by
22 participants including 19 foreign participants from nine
Central Banks. Dave Grace, Vice President of World Council
of Credit Unions, USA also attended as an observer and
guest speaker in the workshop. Shri V.S. Das, Executive
Director, RBI delivered the inaugural address and explained
the architecture of the OSS system of the UBD used for
electronic collection of data from UCBs and utilization of
such data in detecting incipient signals of stress and in
taking decisions. The participants made presentations of
their respective OSS systems which helped to understand
each others' approach to OSS. During the field visits made to
two banks, it was observed that (i) NPAs / potential NPAs
reported in OSS returns had helped the banks in improving
its follow-up and reducing NPAs and (ii) banks in far flung
areas had developed close contact with supervisors through
the process of submitting OSS returns electronically. Smt.
Usha Thorat, Deputy Governor, RBI, in her valedictory
address, discussed the role of OSS in early identification of
problems in banks and dwelt upon ratios identified by
international researchers who through retrospective analysis
showed that it was possible to identify signals of stress in
banks even a few years prior to the banks actually falling into
financial difficulties.
A two day Workshop for SLBC Convener Banks was
conducted to provide a platform for sharing cross- regional
experiences under the Lead Bank Scheme. The participants
made presentation on (i) improving the functional efficiency
of SLBC/ DCC, (ii) financial inclusion and strategies for use of
banking correspondents as intermediaries, (iii) bankers'
response to natural calamities, and (iv) support and
strategies for government sponsored programmes. 34
participants representing various banks attended the
workshop.

A Conference of HR Heads of Banks with the theme
"Training and Learning in Banks" was conducted where 21
participants participated. The participants deliberated on
various aspects of training in banks and shared insights
about making the training programmes more useful and
focused.
An Interactive Workshop for Media Persons from Nepal was
organized in collabroration with the Press Relation Division,
Central Office, Reserve Bank of India. A team of sixteen
participants from the various press and electronic media
from Nepal, led by a senior officer of the nepal Rastra Bank
in charge of the Press Division of the Bank, participated in
the workshop.
INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE VISIT
PROGRAMMES
With the rapid integration of Indian banking scenario with
the worldwide financial architecture, it is necessary to be
aware of and adopt international best practices in various
functional areas. It was with this aim that an International
Programme on Global HRM Best Practices in the Financial
Services Sector was organized by the college and 21
participants from all categories of banks attended. The
programme commenced with a two day introductory
sessions in CAB. The overseas leg of the programme was
organized in collaboration with Asian Institute of
Technology, Thailand, a reputed education and training
institute in Asia Pacific region. As part of the programme,
interactive sessions were organized with leading banks
and financial institutions in Bangkok who shared their
practices in the field of Human Resource Management. The
programme rounded off with a visit to International Centre
for Leadership in Finance (ICLIF) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
where the participants were exposed to best practices in
leadership required in a financial institution along with
inputs on Retention Strategies and Talent Management.
Considering the vital role played by Small & Medium
Enterprises (SMEs) in economic development, the policy
makers, financial institutions and commercial banks of East
Asian countries have begun actively pursuing the
development of SME sector. This was particularly
noticeable in the transition economies viz. Thailand and
Vietnam. To study the models of SME financing and the
methods applied by the banks in these countries to
overcome the constraints faced while financing to SMEs
and draw lessons for Indian banks, the College organised
an International Exposure Programme on Financing SMEs
CAB CALLING January-March, 2008
in Asia for bankers, financial institutions, policy makers and
other institutes engaged in supporting/building capacity of
Indian SME sector. While major part of the programme was
conducted in Thailand and Vietnam in collaboration with
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), a two day in-country
sessions was initially organised at CAB to review the status of
the sector and facilitate cross country comparisons. 18
senior officers (from 10 commercial banks, two FIs, four MFIs
besides one each from RBI and GOI) participated. The
participants, at the end of the programme, have submitted a
study report which highlighted that Indian bankers have
learnt many innovative systems and handholding services
from these countries.
COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMMES
The College organized two four-day programmes, viz.
Programme on Legal and Regulatory Aspects of Banking
Supervision and Programme on Legal and Regulatory
Aspects on Financial Crimes, in collaboration with University
of Newcastle, UK. The first programme was to familiarize the
participants about the internationally agreed legal and
regulatory standards and architecture for bank supervision
and the implementation and enforcement of these standards.
The second programme was to create an understanding of
the potential abuse of the international banking and financial
systems and the legal and regulatory systems to prevent
such abuse. Prof Joanna Gray of Financial Regulation
Department of the University of Newcastle who is also a
solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales was the
resource person for these two programmes. Apart from
senior officers of the Reserve Bank of India, officers from
Bangladesh Bank, Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan and
Indian commercial banks attended the programmes.
The College organized an in-company Programme on
Advanced Derivatives for Officers of the RBI in collaboration
with Eurofinance Training Ltd. Shri Satyajit Das, a leading
training consultant and international expert of repute in the
areas of financial derivatives, capital markets, and treasury
management conducted the five day programme. Thirty five
officers attended the programme.
As a follow up of the decision taken in the Principals
conference at CAB, a CAB- IMAGE Collaborative Training
programme for the Directors of RRBs was conducted at
IMAGE Chennai with the objective of orienting the directors of
RRBs towards the functions of RRBs and their responsibility
as nominee directors. Directors of the RRBs sponsored by
Indian Bank and IOB in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and
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CAB CALLING January-March, 2008
Kerala attended the programme. The programme included
coverage of topics such as, Corporate Governance,
Business Development and Understanding Financial
Statements. CAB proposes to conduct similar programmes
at various training institutions of banks.
While the Self-Help Group (SHG) movement in India has
gained momentum and banks are eager to carry forward
the programme to the far corners of the country, the
progress, however, has been uneven across the country.
The college, hence, organized a three-day Exposure Visit
Programme on Financing of SHGs for senior bankers in
collaboration with NABARD and in association with
BANDHAN at Central Bank Officers Training College,
Kolkata. The main objective of the programme was to
enable the bankers from Central, Eastern, North Eastern
and Northern regions of the country to study the experience
of banks and NGOs in West Bengal and draw lessons from it
that can be applied in their own context. The progarmme
was attended by 31 participants from various banks.
OUTSTATION PROGRAMMES
A State Focussed Programme on Financing Agriculture in
Orissa was held in Bhubaneswar with the objective to (i)
create awareness about the potential and prospects for
agricultural development in Orissa by leveraging modern
technologies and the emerging domestic and export
opportunities and (ii) deliberate on enhancing credit flow to
these sectors and activities, and (iii) to stimulate and
generate new investment and job opportunities. Shri H.R.
Khan, Executive Director, RBI presented a paper on the
status of agriculture in Orissa detailing the option and
opportunities available for the sector. Eighty Six
participants from across the banking spectrum participated
in the programme.
The RBI places high importance to the development of
North East region of the country, especially the SMEs sector
of the region which plays a vital role in providing more job
opportunities. To deliberate on the approaches required for
building and nurturing SME client relationships for
sustainable business growth and to build competencies of
participants to enhance lending to SME sector in NE region,
the College conducted the first Special Programme on
Financing to SMEs, in collaboration with IIBM, Guwahati
which had an overwhelming response.
The Programme on Risk Management in Rural Lending was
organized at IIBM, Guwahati to create awareness about the
risks in rural lending, provide information on the new tools
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and products for risk management, improve skills in risk
assessment in lending and equip the participants to manage
and mitigate risks effectively. Innovations in financing
agriculture to mitigate the risks, agriculture insurance as a
tool for managing risks, risk mitigants like Contract farming,
etc. were discussed in the programme.
A Workshop for the CEOs of UCBs was organized in Kolkata
to familiarize the CEOs of UCBs in West Bengal with the
concepts of corporate governance, latest changes in policy
environment of UCBs, regulatory and supervisory
requirements, and to provide a forum to interact among
themselves and with the regulators. Seventeen participants
took part in the programme. Similarly, Workshops on
Corporate Governance and Regulatory Compliance for
Directors/CEOs of UCBs was organised in Jaipur to sensitise
the participants about their role and responsibilities,
corporate governance, and regulatory supervisory
developments relating to the UCBs. Fifty two directors and
37 CEOs attended the workshop.
A Workshop on Managerial Aspects and Fund Management
for UCBs was organized in Chandigarh to provide an
overview on the latest developments in the urban
cooperative banking sector as well as the changing
regulatory perspectives in respect of UCBs. 29 Officers of
various cooperative banks under the jurisdiction of
Chandigarh Office of the RBI took part in the programme.
CUSTOMISED PROGRAMMES
The College organized a two-week Programme on Central
Banking for the Officers of Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) of
Bhutan. The programme was specially customized to
apprise and sensitise the 21 newly recruited officers of the
Bank on all important aspects of central banking. It included
visits to the Central Office of the Reserve Bank of India,
Government of India Mint, National Clearing Centre,
Monetary Museum and CVPS.
Three customised on-site Training Programmes for Officers
of Saurashtra Grameen Bank were organised in Sayla in
Surendranagar District with the objective of reinforcing in the
participants the significant role of RRBs in the changing rural
banking scenario and to help them understand themselves
better and become more effective at their work. A total of 91
officers of the bank were trained in these programmes.
An onsite Management Development Programme for the
Officers of Pondicherry Industrial Promotion Development
and Investment Corporation Limited (PIPDIC) was

conducted by the College in Puducherry. Twenty Five
officers attended the programme.
OTHER IMPORTANT PROGRAMMES
The Programme on Investment & Funds Management for
the Officers of UCBs was conducted to familiarise the
various investment opportunities and equip the
participants with the knowledge and skills relating to
various aspects of investment and funds management in
UCBs.
The Programme on Management of Training &Training of
Trainers of the UCBs was organized to familiarize the
systematic approach to training, use various delivery
methods for transfer of learnings, enhance communication
skills, and sensitise about the rationale, content and
implications of various prudential regulatory norms. The
target audience included principals and members of
faculty of cooperative training institutions, senior officers of
the UCBs, SCBs and DCCBs. The programme had 27
participants from different parts of the country.
A Workshop on Financial Analysis using Spreadsheet
Applications like EXCEL was conducted to expose the
bankers to the use of spreadsheet applications in analysing
financial statement for making their credit decisions. The
workshop mainly consisted of hands-on sessions in the
computer lab along with case studies.
The Management Development Programme for Executives of
Micro-Finance Institutions (MFIs) was conducted for the
senior officers and officers of HR departments of MFIs to
prepare them to be in tune with the present focus as critical
support structures for achieving financial inclusion and be
aware and manage relationships with peers and clients in a
better way. The course contents included knowledge and
management of self, interpersonal relationship management,
transactional analysis, conflict management, leadership and
decision making, management of emotions, etc.
A one-day Workshop for Senior Officers of the RBI on
Rajbhasha Policy was held by Rajbhasha Department, RBI.
The aim of the workshop was to familiarize the participants
about the Rajbhasha policy, targets set by the government
to implement it and the role they are expected to play as
senior officers of the bank. In all 27 senior officers from
various departments/regional offices of RBI attended the
workshop.
OTHER ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES
The process of ISO Certification which was initiated in July
2007 got completed in about six month's time. The College
has streamlined its processes and developed a robust
system of designing training programmes. These
CAB CALLING January-March, 2008
processes and systems meet the Quality Management
Standards as per the requirements of ISO 9001: 2000 and the
Certification Agency Bureau of Veritas Certification awarded
the ISO Certificate on January 18, 2008.
The College had earlier entered into an agreement in
December 2004 with UNDP and the Planning Commission to
jointly conduct training courses on Human Development and
State Finances for the officers of the State Governments and
the Planning Commission. During January 2006 to
December 2007, the College had successfully conducted
twelve training programmes. Keeping in view the shifts in
focus of the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012) towards
strengthening of State and District Planning System and to
develop a cadre of identified trainers in each State on District
Planning with a focus on Human Development, CAB-UNDP-
Planning Commission agreement has now been extended to
provide nine Training of Trainers (TOT) courses on Human
Development and District Planning during July 2008 -
December 2009 to train around 150 trainers. For this
purpose, CAB has developed a TOT Manual that includes
modules on (i) concept of HD and HD reports, (ii) poverty
alleviation programmes, (iii) financing HD, (iv) planning to
strengthen HD, (v) gender budgeting, and (vi) andragogy.
NABARD, Pune Regional Office had convened the State
Credit Seminar to discuss the various issues connected with
the implementation of the development programmes to
ensure optimal utilization of potential in Maharashtra. Shri
Ram Raje Naik Nimbalkar, Minister of Water Resources,
Government of Maharashtra inaugurated the seminar.
The meeting of the Regional Advisory Committee of the Zonal
Training Centre, Belapur was held at the College on February
1, 2008. Apart from the Chief General Manager, HRDD, RBI,
CO, five Regional Directors and Chief General Managers of
Foreign Exchange Department and Premises Department
attended.
A meeting of Standing Committee on Shabdavali, constituted
by Rajbhasha Department, Central Office, RBI to prepare a
standard glossary of banking/financial terms in Hindi, was
held in February 2008 in the College. Besides four senior
officers from RBI, seven officials from various commercial
banks attended this meeting.
As part of its silver jubilee celebrations, RBI Archives (RBIA)
organized online quiz and essay competition for the RBI staff
and their family. Also, two diploma holders in Archives and
Record Management have been selected as summer
trainees for a period of three months to work on
projects/assignments relating to the selection of documents
for the archival exhibition, arrangement of records,
preparation of reference media, microfilming and others
technical works in the RBIA.