Chetna Sinha is the Founder and Chairperson of Mann Deshi Bank and Mann Deshi Foundation, dedicated to empowering rural women and fostering holistic community development.
In 1997, Chetna established the Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank, India’s pioneering financial institution designed for and by rural women. The bank has since facilitated loans exceeding 780 million, consistently innovating to introduce new financial products tailored to the evolving needs of female micro-entrepreneurs. Under Chetna’s visionary leadership, Mann Deshi Bank pioneered the first pension scheme for women in the informal economy, showcasing an unwavering commitment to the financial well-being of women micro-entrepreneurs.
Chetna’s impact extends beyond financial services. In 2006, she founded the first business school for rural women in India, providing education as a key empowerment tool. In 2013, she launched a toll-free helpline and established the first Chambers of Commerce for women micro-entrepreneurs in the country, fostering a supportive business ecosystem.
Recognising the importance of community development, Mann Deshi Foundation, under Chetna’s guidance, operates a diverse range of programs. These include a community radio station, a healthcare for all initiative, a sports for development program, and a climate-smart agriculture program, all geared towards comprehensive development within the communities it serves. It has also set up women-led farmer-producer companies and organisations.
Chetna Sinha’s illustrious accolades include being a Yale Fellow, Ashoka Fellow, and Schwab Fellow. In 2018, she co-chaired the World Economic Forum in Davos and the Financial Inclusion segment at the W20 Summit in Argentina. The same year, she received the prestigious Nari Shakti Puraskar, the highest civilian award for women in India, from the President. Chetna is an active member of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance (2022) and the Gender Equality Advisory Council (2022), appointed during Germany’s G7 Presidency. Additionally, she chaired the G20 EMPOWER’s Working Group on Financial Inclusion and Business Acceleration in 2023.
Mann Deshi, headquartered in Mhaswad and operating in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Silvassa, has positively impacted over 950,000 women. With an ambitious goal, the organisation aims to reach one million women in 2024, reflecting Chetna Sinha’s tireless dedication to transforming lives and fostering sustainable development within marginalised communities.
