Usha Multipurpose Cooperative Bank (UMCB) is based in Sonagachi, North Kolkata, one of the largest red-light areas in Asia. The bank was formed in 2001 and is run by former sex workers and run for the women from the same trade. ( Deccan Herald, Bangalore 5th Feb 2015)
UMCB has been named the ‘Best Managed Cooperative ‘ in West Bengal for 2014 at the 61st All-India Cooperative Meet. The bank has recorded a recovery rate of 98% of the loans with minimal NPAs.
Now compare and contrast this behaviour and attitude a few of the ‘suceessful’ corporates!
As per the All India Bank Employees Association the top 50 loan defaulters’ total default amounts to Rs. 40,528 Crores and is headed by Vijay Mallya ( Rs. 7000 Crores+) Sterling Biotech, Deccan Chronicle etc.
I heard a Sr. Finance executive of a large petrochemical company telling me (darling of investors, shareholders etc. all these days) how the company increases its net margins by at least Rs. 100- 150 crores per year by simply delaying the suppliers’ payments for more than six months under some pretext or the other.
The page 3 celebrities get all the limelight and the glitter. But then who is more ethical and moral the Sex-workers or the ‘successful’ corporate?
Rajan Parulekar 