Our People – BWDA Finance Limited

BWDA Finance Limited has a highly driven and experienced team of over 400 employees. A well-constituted active Board provides guidance and direction for the Institution and ensures vision compliance.

The Board is comprised of Directors with extensive financial sector and microfinance experience. There are two independent directors who are Chartered Accountants. The Board provides the direction and closely monitors the progress of the institution. The sub-committees of the board namely the Audit Committee, ALCO Committee, Executive Committee, Credit Committee, Share Transfer Committee, Client Grievances redressal Committee and Employee Compensation Committee critically review various aspects of the

operations. The senior management team is comprised of retired bankers with two to three decades of experience in banking. BFL has a full-time CFO and Company Secretary with extensive experience. The senior management team well supported by a vibrant team of middle and field level team with substantial experience in microfinance

Promoter: Dr. C. Joslin Thambi

The Managing Director, Dr. C. Joslin Thambi is committed to the cause of the neglected, exploited, and un-organized people. He completed M.A. in Social Service and M.Phil in Micro-Level Planning at Gandhigram Rural University, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, and a short-term Development Programme in the UK. He was awarded Doctor of Honors (Social Work) by Open International University for Complementary Medicine, Sri Lanka for his contribution to society. Dr. Thambi has also completed HBS-ACCION Strategic Leadership for Microfinance program at Harvard Business School, Boston

As a student he was an active member and office bearer of Student Christian Movement (SCM) and this inspired him to take up a path of social action. He served as Zonal Commander for flood rehabilitation services in 1978 in Pudukottai district and constructed 90 houses. He also participated actively in the flood rehabilitation work in Andra Pradesh. In 1979, he initiated supply of food, clothing and medicine to the flood victims in Cholavanthan, Madurai. In 1980, he joined a service organisation, People’s Association for Social Action (PASA) as Secretary-cum-Programme Officer where he worked for 5 years.

Dr. Thambi was aware of the pains and suffering of bullock-cart workers, their families and the importance of bullock cart industry, as his father was a bullock-cart worker. He wanted to do something for their upliftment. With the blessings, guidance and encouragement of Dr.Gnana Robinson President of BWDA, late Rev.M.J.Joseph, Ex.Treasurer of BWDA, Mr.Y.David, Ex-Vice President of BWDA, Prof.N.S.Ramswamy, Ex-Director, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, BWDA formed “Bullock-cart Workers Development Association (BWDA) on 2^nd October 1985. Dr. Thambi has initiated many programmes like financial inclusion, gender sensitisation, health and sanitation, infrastructure development, livelihood promotion, education, capacity building etc. through BWDA for the development of the bullock cart workers, labourers, rural artisans and neglected women and children. Dr.Thambi served as the Director-cum-Secretary of Bullock-cart Workers Development Association (BWDA) from till 2005 and is now working as Hon.Secretary with full the support and cooperation of staff, committee and well wishers. From 2006, Dr. Thambi is serving as the Managing Director of BWDA Finance Limited. Dr.Thambi is also the Founder-Cum-Secretary of BWDA Arts & Science College, BWDA Polytechnic College, BWDA Institute of Development Finance (BIDFin), BWDA Schools; Chairperson of the BWDA Mutual Benefit Trusts (BMBT); Managing Trustee for Centre for Development Education (CED) and the Editor of Sangamam Monthly Tamil News Letter.

Dr.Thambi also works closely with other development organisations and networks and has held and holds various honourable positions. He was an organising Committee Member, International Micro-Credit Submit-organized by Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women Limited; President, Sadhan Tamil Nadu State Chapter, and is a Member of Task force Committee, Prime Ministers Rozgar Yojana, DIC – VPM district; Member of SGSY, DRDA in Villupuram & Cuddalore Districts; Honorary Animal Welfare officer, Animal Welfare Board of India Chennai; Board Member, Sadhan, New Delhi; Member, BWTP; Treasurer, Program for Social action (PSA); Advisor, State Bullock-cart Workers Association, Chennai; President, Tamil Nadu Voluntary Health Association (TNVHA)-Network Organization- member base of 744 NGOs including Hospitals in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry; Convener, Villupuram District Co-ordination Committee TNVHA; President, Social Service Society (SSS)

Dr. Thambi has been awarded the Annai Theresa Award, National Environmental Awareness Award, Rajiv Gandhi Sironmani Award, Dr.Ambedhkar Award, Master of Achievement- Gold Star Millennium Award, and Kamarajar Award for his contribution towards poverty alleviation.