ICICI Bank 2006 Annual Report Download - page 41

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Business Overview
quality of elementary education and enhancing access to micro financial services are critical for facilitating
effective participation in the Indian context.
Early Child Health
Our initiatives in this sector aim to strengthen the ability of households, communities as well as health
systems to improve the health and nutritional status of young children, and women throughout their
lifecycles. In fiscal 2006, we partnered with the State Health Resource Centre, an NGO in Chhattisgarh to
explore interventions for building sustainability into large scale community health worker programmes,
build state and civil society partnerships within the framework of the recently launched National Rural
Health Mission and improve the quality of public health programmes in India through capacity building
initiatives such as the Public Health Resource Network. We also supported the Foundation for Research
in Community Health, Pune to create a sectoral resource and evidence base on community health worker
training.
Elementary Education
Improving the quality of elementary schooling (3 -14 years) received by poor children in India is the focus
of our work in this area. In partnership with pioneering NGOs, we work to strengthen institutions and
systems involved in aspects of pedagogy, curriculum development, school organisation and evaluation.
During fiscal 2006, we built partnerships for research in education and supported an international seminar
on science education and learning. Collaborating with resource organisations such as Digantar Shiksha
Evum Khelkud Samiti, Jaipur and Vidya Bhawan Society, Udaipur we developed a comprehensive
programme for improving the quality of education in Baran District, Rajasthan. We also supported a
partnership between Edcuation Resource Organisation, Ahmedabad and the Ahmedabad Municipal
Corporation for strengthening teacher training systems.
Micro Financial Services
Our initiatives in the area of micro finance seek to ensure that all individuals, especially the poorest, have
convenient access to a comprehensive range of financial services. During fiscal 2006, we supported the
Centre for Micro Finance at the Institute for Financial Management and Research, Chennai to provide
much needed training services for micro finance institutions (MFIs) in partnership with Micro Save. We
also worked to attract venture capital into the micro finance sector, conceptualized the setting up of an
independent company to provide information systems services to MFIs as well as supported pilots to
explore viable technology-based models for reaching financial services to the urban poor. Further, we
explored the development of enabling sectoral infrastructure such as a credit bureau and a unique identifier.
PUBLIC RECOGNITION
During fiscal 2006, we received several prestigious awards in recognition of our overall business strategies,
specific products and technology focus.
“Bank of the Year Award for India” by The Banker
“Best Bank in India” by Euromoney
“Best Integrated Consumer Bank Site in Asia” by Global Finance
“Best Consumer Internet Bank in India” by Global Finance
“Best Corporate / Institutional Internet Bank” by Global Finance
“Excellence in Financial Reporting” by Institute of Chartered Accountant of India
“Best Local Cash Management Bank for Domestic Cash Management Services” by Asiamoney
“Best Local Cash Management Bank for Most Innovative Cash Management Solutions” by Asiamoney
“Best Cash Management - Country Award in India” by The Asset
“Best Secondary Offering” - Finance Asia