Community Outreach

Recognizing the significance of social interventions and their wide-reaching impact on marginalized communities, we go beyond offering mere loans. Through our CSR program, we’ve launched several initiatives aimed at empowering the communities we serve.

An unrelenting focus on customers

Committed to the belief that social interventions can profoundly influence marginalized communities, we deliver more than just financial services. Our CSR initiatives focus on fostering empowerment and growth in the communities they support. While our goal is to create a broad societal impact, we prioritize women, children, marginalized groups, and the elderly. Our flagship CSR projects concentrate on enhancing financial literacy among rural women, fostering skill development for youth, and ensuring the welfare of farmers’ cattle.

CSR Projects

Venkatesh N

Managing Director

Shivaprakash Deviah

Whole Time Director & CIO

Ms. Uma Shanmukhi Sistla

Additional (Independent Director)

CSR Committee

Financial Literacy and Inclusion

Financial literacy is a vital component of a nation’s prosperity, intricately linked to its economic development. It involves acquiring the skills and understanding needed to make informed choices, efficiently handling finances and earnings for wise spending, and saving. Essentially, financial literacy empowers individuals to devise robust and sustainable financial strategies that suit their resources and income, addressing both immediate and future requirements.

Our financial literacy initiative aims to educate women, youth, and farmers residing in underserved rural areas through village-level training sessions. Our program emphasizes essential financial concepts, such as income and expenses management, financial planning and budgeting, the significance of saving, borrowing practices, navigating formal financial systems, investment strategies, and understanding social benefit schemes.

Following the training sessions, we establish kiosks at the village level to ensure ongoing support and assistance for financial inclusion.

Our financial literacy efforts have benefitted over 64,000 individuals in rural areas, providing them with crucial financial skills. Thanks to this initiative, participants are now equipped to make informed financial choices, cultivate improved saving practices, utilize banking services, and enroll in diverse social benefit programs.

Livestock Development Program

Livestock farming plays a pivotal role in rural livelihoods, complementing agricultural endeavors and serving as a primary income source for numerous households throughout India. This mutually beneficial connection between agriculture and livestock is deeply ingrained in rural communities, where both sectors thrive together, supporting and enhancing each other.

Despite its importance, improving the productivity of farm animals remains a significant hurdle. Numerous factors contribute to this challenge, including limited understanding of optimal livestock rearing methods, insufficient implementation of preventive healthcare measures, scarcity of quality fodder, and underutilization of modern technologies such as Artificial Insemination.

Acknowledging these challenges, IIFL Samasta has undertaken a comprehensive initiative to assist dairy cattle farmers and tackle these urgent issues. We have established 25 Livestock Development Centers across rural regions in Bihar, Karnataka, and Rajasthan. These centers act as focal points for delivering vital cattle health services directly to farmers’ homes, offering essential interventions like Artificial Insemination (AI) and supplying necessary inputs for dairy cattle farming.

We advocate and incentivize dairy cattle farmers to cultivate enhanced fodder varieties, ensuring a consistent supply of nutritious feed for livestock year-round. Additionally, we arrange village-level health camps providing essential veterinary services like vaccinations, deworming, and health assessments to safeguard cattle welfare. This proactive strategy aids in reducing disease prevalence and mortality rates among livestock. Through this comprehensive approach, we have positively influenced over 43,000 dairy cattle farmers.

Promoting women microentrepreneurs

Rural women in India rely heavily on agriculture and livestock for their livelihoods. However, the well-being of rural communities, especially small and marginal households, including women, is threatened by the fragmentation of land holdings across generations. Agriculture alone cannot adequately meet the needs of poor and marginal households. Additionally, unpredictable rainfall patterns increase risks in the farming sector, prompting individuals to explore opportunities in other sectors. 

Recognizing the potential of non-farm rural entrepreneurship, IIFL Samasta collaborates with over 1000 women in rural Bihar and Tamil Nadu to enhance sustainable income. Through activities like mushroom cultivation, goat rearing, tailoring, food processing, millet value addition, fashion designing, handicrafts, and bag making, we empower women economically. Key program activities include raising awareness, mobilizing women, providing skill training and enterprise management support, facilitating business setup, organizing exposure visits, and assisting with market linkages.

Scholarship for Girl students

At IIFL Samasta, we strongly advocate for equal access to quality education for every girl, regardless of their financial situation. Sadly, financial constraints, gender biases, and lack of support often hinder girls from continuing their education. We are dedicated to changing this narrative. To address these challenges, IIFL Samasta has initiated a scholarship program tailored specifically for financially disadvantaged young girls. This program has positively impacted many girls, enabling them to pursue their education without financial burdens. By providing financial aid, we empower these girls to pursue their academic goals and unleash their potential. Over the past four years, IIFL Samasta has supported over 2,500 girl students through scholarships.

Furthermore, we offer guidance and mentorship through our employee mentorship program. Scholarship recipients are paired with mentors who offer support, guidance, and motivation.
At IIFL Samasta, we are committed to bridging educational disparities and creating a future where every girl can thrive. Together, we can overcome obstacles, promote gender equality, and build a brighter, more inclusive world for all.

Project Vision care

The necessity for eye check-up camps in rural India is crucial for several reasons. Primarily, rural regions frequently suffer from insufficient healthcare infrastructure, particularly in terms of eye care services. Consequently, a considerable portion of the population remains untreated for various eye ailments, resulting in preventable blindness and vision impairment.
The necessity for eye check-up camps in rural India is crucial for several reasons. Primarily, rural regions frequently suffer from insufficient healthcare infrastructure, particularly in terms of eye care services. Consequently, a considerable portion of the population remains untreated for various eye ailments, resulting in preventable blindness and vision impairment.

Promoting Environmental Sustainability and Renewable Resources

Promoting sustainability and fighting climate change requires the adoption of solar lighting and tree planting initiatives. These actions not only decrease carbon emissions and energy usage but also boost biodiversity, support ecosystem health, and enhance community resilience against climate change impacts.
In Karnataka’s HD Kote block, IIFL Samasta has installed solar streetlights, a significant stride towards embracing renewable energy solutions. This marks our modest contribution to climate change mitigation. These solar streetlights in rural communities offer tangible benefits by providing lighting solutions after dark. This enhances safety and security while improving residents’ quality of life, particularly in areas with limited access to electricity.

Our tree plantation initiatives have resulted in the planting of over 8,000 trees across numerous cities. These programs are designed to enhance greenery and mitigate the adverse effects of pollution in urban areas. Ultimately, this effort will contribute to revitalizing the entire region, fostering a greener environment, and cultivating resilient trees capable of withstanding natural disasters in the long term.

Humanitarian aid

At IIFL Samasta, our dedication to supporting communities remains steadfast. In times of crisis, we stand in solidarity with those who require assistance. Through concerted endeavors, we’ve delivered crucial aid to 23,775 individuals impacted by natural calamities such as cyclones and floods, ensuring they receive vital dry ration kits. Furthermore, acknowledging the frontline heroes combating COVID-19, we’ve distributed COVID-19 safety kits to 2,100 police personnel and provided 2,500 PPE kits to government hospitals. Together, we endeavor to assist and safeguard individuals confronting challenges across diverse situations.
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Board of Directors

Venkatesh N

Managing Director

Mr. Venkatesh N, one of the founders and Managing Director of IIFL Samasta Finance Ltd, is a visionary leader in the financial services sector, with over two decades of entrepreneurial prowess. Renowned for his innovative spirit, he spearheaded the esteemed PNV Techno Acquisitions Private Ltd., specializing in financial product marketing, and Affluence Edifice, a premier provider of wealth management services for individuals. Combining his bachelor’s degree in computer science with advanced training from the esteemed Harvard Business School-ACCION Program on Strategic Leadership in Microfinance, Venkatesh epitomizes a rare blend of technical expertise and strategic foresight.

His unwavering dedication to inclusive finance resonates deeply in the establishment of IIFL Samasta, where he steers the organization towards unparalleled success. Venkatesh’s groundbreaking initiatives have propelled IIFL Samasta to the forefront of the microfinance industry, ensuring that financial empowerment reaches even the most marginalized communities. With a seasoned entrepreneurial spirit, Venkatesh remains steadfast in his commitment to fostering sustainable growth and driving positive change in the financial landscape.

Beyond his role as an industry luminary, Venkatesh serves as a beacon of leadership, offering strategic insights that continue to shape the trajectory of microfinance in India and beyond.

Board of Directors

Shivaprakash Deviah

Whole Time Director

Shivaprakash, as one of the founders and technological visionary behind IIFL Samasta since its establishment in 2008, brings forth a wealth of experience spanning over two decades in both software development and financial services. Leading the charge in the organization’s technology-driven initiatives, he has been instrumental in laying the groundwork for a robust IT infrastructure that underpins seamless operations. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in computer science & engineering from PSG College of Technology and a Diploma in Microfinance from the Indian Institute of Banking & Finance, Shivaprakash seamlessly integrates technical expertise with financial acumen.

Drawing from his tenure at Wipro, where he managed global technology projects, Shivaprakash honed his leadership and project management skills, providing a solid framework for his pivotal role at IIFL Samasta. As a co-founder, he meticulously oversees operations, ensuring the flawless execution of business strategies and the delivery of unparalleled services to clients.

Under his guidance, IIFL Samasta has embraced cutting-edge technology to optimize efficiency and elevate the customer experience, positioning the organization as a pioneer in the microfinance landscape. Shivaprakash’s unwavering commitment to harnessing technology for social impact underscores his dedication to driving positive change and fostering inclusive growth. His visionary leadership continues to chart the course of IIFL Samasta, propelling it towards even greater success and impact in the financial services sector.

Board of Directors

Ms. Uma Shanmukhi Sistla​

Additional Director (Independent Director)

Smt. Uma Shanmukhi Sistla is a banking professional with four decades of experience at the State Bank of India and its associated companies. Upon retirement, she held the position of Chief General Manager at the State Bank of India and served as the Managing Director and CEO of SBI-SG Global Securities Services Pvt Ltd (SBI-SG). SBI-SG specializes in custody, clearing, fund accounting, and various other securities services.

Smt. Uma Shanmukhi Sistla began her career with State Bank of Hyderabad in 1983 and joined State Bank of India as a Probationary Officer in 1987. She has wide experience spanning ~40 years, in various areas of Banking, covering Branch Operations, Credit Management, Consumer Banking, SME Finance, International Banking, Training, Research, e-course development, Investment Banking, Investor relations, ALM, Financial Control. She also has exposure to Bank’s International operations, owing to a 2 year stint at SBI’s Frankfurt Branch.

Smt. Uma Shanmukhi Sistla has served as a Whole time Director of SBI Capital Markets Limited for a period of two years and was a Director on the Boards of the group companies viz. SBICAP Securities Ltd, SBICAP Ventures Ltd SBICAP Trustee Company Ltd, SBICAP UK & SBICAP Singapore.

Smt. Uma Shanmukhi Sistla is a Science graduate and a Certified Associate of Indian Institute of Bankers. She holds an MBA in Banking and Finance and was also a Certified Financial Planner from FPSB India in 2011.

She takes keen interest in Capital Markets businesses  and was also honoured by Equalifi as one among the “Top 100 Women in Finance” during 2020.