An Indian bank manager uses microloans to eradicate debt and build enterprise
Many of India’s 1.2 billion people are forced to borrow money from private lenders at extremely high interest rates, and spend years deep in debt. Banking on Change follows J S Parthibhan, a bank manager in Salem, south India, who is determined to help people repay their debts and begin to save money. He travels to the surrounding villages and befriends people looking to get out of debt, start businesses or open bank accounts. For this inspirational bank manager, economic reform on a national level must begin in the villages, among the families and small businesses that make up the backbone of India.
Director and Producer: Andrew Hinton

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