More Stories

Informist, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026

 

MUMBAI – Sadaf Sayeed, chief executive officer, Muthoot Microfin, said the following on the Union Budget for 2026-27 (Apr-Mar), presented in the Lok Sabha by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday:

 

Budget 2026–27 marks a strategic evolution in rural development, moving beyond credit access to enterprise creation. The expansion of Lakpati Didi into She-Marts and community-owned retail outlets represents a transformative shift, enabling women to transition from beneficiaries to business owners within formal value chains.

 

The focus on fisheries, animal husbandry, and high-value agriculture through credit-linked programmes directly strengthens income diversification for rural households. Combined with the Rs 10,000 crore (INR 100 billion) MSME growth fund and enhanced capex allocation of Rs 12.2 lakh crore (INR 12.2 trillion), these measures create a robust ecosystem for sustainable livelihoods at the grassroots.

 

For microfinance institutions, this Budget supports our core mission, building enterprises that generate consistent cash flows and strengthen repayment capacity. The integration of innovative financing instruments with digital infrastructure will be critical to scaling these interventions responsibly.  End 

 

Compiled by Shumaila Firoz 
Filed by Avishek Dutta

 

For users of real-time market data terminals, Informist news is available exclusively on the NSE Cogencis WorkStation.

 

Cogencis news is now Informist news. This follows the acquisition of Cogencis Information Services Ltd by NSE Data & Analytics Ltd, a 100% subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. As a part of the transaction, the news department of Cogencis has been sold to Informist Media Pvt Ltd.

 

Informist Media Tel +91 (22) 6985-4000

Send comments to feedback@informistmedia.com

 

© Informist Media Pvt. Ltd. 2026. All rights reserved.