Vypin branch (Kochi) celebrated the achievement of reaching a customer base of 1000 customers in October. Ujjivan had entered Kerala in early 2010, opening two branches in Kochi – Vypin and Pallurathy with Vypin branch reaching the milestone of 1000 customers in September. The journey has not been without its challenges, for Kerala is a state with minimal microfinance penetration. The concept of a private organisation with social objectives is alien to Kerala, with well entrenched and successful social development programs initiated by the state government.

Ujjivan’s Kerala team put in great efforts in building a microfinance culture and spreading awareness about the organisation. These efforts have yielded rich dividends in the form of a steady growth in customer base and a satisfied clientele.

The Vypin branch Centre Leader meeting commemorated the 1000-customers milestone and also offered an opportunity to the customers’ opinion leaders to provide their feedback to Ujjivan. The women customers in Vypin are mainly fisherwomen and housemaids.

The event was graced by Mr. A. Vikraman, Independent Director on the Board of Ujjivan and Ms. Carol Furtado, COO (South). The presence of Mr. Vikraman added shine to the event for he, hailing from Kerala himself also helped shape Ujjivan’s entry into Kerala. His speech in Malayalam elicited an enthusiastic response from the audience, as he described the dangers of multiple borrowing and emphasized the importance of financial planning. Ms. Furtado, on her part, thanked the customers for their association with Ujjivan and expressed her confidence in