Financial literacy is especially essential for the SHG members for effective management of SHGs. For capacity building of SHGs the facilitators need a hands-on guide on Financial Literacy. Indian School of Microfinance for Poor Women (ISMW), an Ahmadabad based organization, had brought out six booklets entitled Financial Literacy for Poor Women in English. This has been translated into Kannada by Initiatives for Development Foundation, Bangalore with financial assistance from NABARD, Bangalore. The Kannada version was released by Mrs. Vijayalakshmi Das of ISMW in a simple function at NABARD regional office, Bangalore held on 01 September 2010. The function was chaired by Dr. Venkatesh Tagat, CGM, NABARD. Representatives from women SHGs, NGOs working among poor women and senior executives of NABARD attended.

Enthused by Narayan Reddy's thoughts on farming, farmers' groups of Sujeevana program, Kunigal taluk have shown keen interest to learn from his farming methods through study tours. Over 100 farmers have gone on such tours of one day each in the months of July and August 2010. IDF organized structured learning to the farmers called participatory learning. Farmers were first exposed to outside farmers' fields and were guided to record the farming systems and ecological components through transect walks. Then they were guided to do the same in Naraya Reddy's farm. The crucial difference between the Reddy's farm premises and the outside farms were presented by farmers in small groups. It was so effective that participants spontaneously expressed that Reddy's farm premises of 4.5 acres looks like Malnad (high rainfall) area while the fact is that Doddaballapur area is dry land belt with over 500 mm of rainfall. Later, Reddy guided the farmers through his farming and thoughts on self reliant farming systems. Enthused farmers, at the end of each study tour, took oath to adopt organic farming.

Annual meet of farmers of IDF-Sujeevan project was held on 07 June 2010 in Kenkere, near Kunigal. Over 4000 farmers and women, representing groups promoted in Sujeevan, participated in the meet. Cultural teams lent a festive look to the occasion. Exhibition of sustainable agricultural practices like agro forestry, horticulture and SRI practices, and income generation activities of the women groups promoted by IDF and community seed bank promoted by GREEN Foundation was the education to the farming community. Farmers' Federation, the apex body of the farmers and women groups promoted in Sujeevan was formally launched during the occasion. The entire event was conducted through community participation with federation taking the lead role. Dignitaries from NABARD and SBI were the witness to the event. Nadoja L Narayana Reddy, the quintessential organic farmer from Doddaballapur delivered the key note address on the occasion. He made an impression on the farming community by his simplicity and thoughts on farming he follows. His call for farmers to plant at least one tree sapling on their birthday instead of spending money touched the participants' hearts. The fact that a large number of farmers are now on study tour to his farm is the testimony to his inspirational abilities. Farmers' Monthly Meetings : A voluntary initiative of the farmers constituting the FFS, now known as Krushikara Koota, the meeting is socialization, networking and experience sharing and action planning meeting at the village. The FFS and the SHGs of the farmers and women of the village host the meeting, including all logistics, boarding expenses. They invite the members of other village FFS/SHGs to the meet. The meet would last about 5 to 6 hours concluding with lunch. Innovative farmers, specialists on themes of immediate use to farmers are also invited to have interactions. This meeting holds lot of potential for co-opting the larger village community for collective actions and is serving to evolve and institutionalize producers' collectives.

To bring in Financial Inclusion, as per the policy initiatives of RBI, Banks can engage NGOs to provide services as Business Facilitator (BF) or Business Correspondent (BC). The BC/BF working with the financially excluded community shall bring them under banking fold through enabling processes. IDF took steps to partner as BC/BF of SBI subsequent to the workshop titled 'VYAPTI' held during 2008. This workshop focused on roles and responsibilities of NGOs as BC/BF in Financial inclusion. The Workshop was cosponsored by Hivos, SBI along with other financial institutions. The workshop pointed to the need for developing a scalable and replicable financial inclusion process bringing the financially excluded into the banking fold. Subsequent to the workshop, IDF formulated a time bound project with part funding from Hivos. The project is called 'Sujeevan' (Financial Inclusion for Livelihood Security). The pilot is being implemented in Kunigal taluk of Tumkur district. This taluk has been considered as the most backward taluk by the Government of Karnataka.

Breakfast
8:30-9:30	Jim Spudich, Stanford University A personal perspective: Pursue a vision, let biology drive technology, development, maintain curiosity, optimism and perseverance, and capitalize on chance observations
9:30-10:00	Break
10:00-10:30	Obaid Siddiqi, NCBS, Bangalore Thoughts on the trajectory of Indian biosciences
10:30-11:00	K. VijayRagahavan, Director of the NCBS, Bangalore Overview and perspective of the meeting
11:00-12:00 pm	Discussions of future