We aim to create a consistently profitable business with a strong focus on ESG aspects. Over the past decade, we have demonstrated a strong commitment to ESG goals and impact-creation with a special focus on enabling access to credit to women.
Since Fiscal 2009, we have been committed to providing efficient access to debt finance to under-servedhouseholds and businesses. This commitment brings our business in line with five out of the 17 sustainable development goals by the United Nations (“UNSDGs”) that directly acknowledge access to financial services as being relevant targets to be achieved by Fiscal 2030. These five UNSDGs are ‘no poverty’, ‘zero hunger’, ‘gender equality’, ‘industry, innovation and infrastructure’ and ‘decent work and economic growth’. Set out below is our reach and work towards expanding access to debt finance through our lending through our Originator Partners over the past three Fiscals.
Set out below is our reach and work towards expanding access to debt finance through our lending through our Originator Partners over the past three Fiscals.
| Particulars | Fiscal 2019 | Fiscal 2020 | Fiscal 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Funding Enabled (Y-o-Y) (₹ in million) | 143,653.49 | 146,925.63 | 130,536.93 |
| Number of districts | 572 | 581 | 657 |
| Presence in aspirational districts* | 103 | 104 | 110 |
| Total Number of End- Borrowers ** | 47,386,385 | 58,832,282 | 54, 219,557*** |
| Number of women borrowers | 41,636,074 | 49,428,292 | 42,765,026*** |
* A total of 117 districts have been identified by Niti Aayog as requiring improvement based upon composite indicators from health and nutrition, education, agriculture & water resources, financial inclusion, skill development and basic infrastructure.
** Includes our retail borrowers and borrowers of Originator Partners.
*** Data as of December 31, 2020.
Our Company enforces ESG parameters as part of our corporate governance commitment to our shareholders including through an adherence to Leapfrog’s ‘Responsible Investor Code’,
With the objective of delivering both financial and social results by incorporating best practices across environmental, social, and governance impact management. Our underwriting guidelines along with the ESG policy also incorporate a responsible financing framework across parameters such as governance, employee rights and environment which are applied at multiple stages such as client on-boarding, investment or lending, and post-transaction monitoring. Specifically, as part of our relationships with Originator Partners, we also monitor their adherence to norms on customer protection and fair practice codes - including instituting adequate mechanisms for resolution of complaints, fostering fair and respectful treatment of borrowers particularly during collection processes.
As of December 31, 2021, more than 75.00% of the total underlying borrowers of our Originator Partners comprised of women. As part of our ESG Policy, we also look into whether our clients meet certain minimum elements of corporate governance. Our subsidiary, NAIM, has also developed a social performance assessment tool covering over 55 data points as part of one of its impact-focussed funds.
As a result of our focus on ESG, Global Impact Investing Ratings System has accorded our impact business model a rating of ‘Platinum’ (on a scale of Bronze to Platinum) thrice in the last five Fiscals, and awarded us three out of five stars in operations ratings for measures of impactful practices, policies and achievements.