Empowering Women,
Transforming Lives
Mann Deshi empowers female entrepreneurs and their communities by providing access to knowledge, capital, markets and social support.
We work to empower women and their communities.
For women
We focus on nurturing and supporting micro-entrepreneurs. Our programmes are developed organically to address needs identified by the women we work with. We continue to evolve and adapt our programmes based on their inputs in order to better suit these needs.
For Communities
We are headquartered in the drought-prone region of Mann Taluka, rural Maharashtra. Our programmes work on addressing the needs of this community. We focus on water conservation to support small and marginal farmers. We also help young people continue their financial education and develop their sporting potential.
LATEST PROJECTS
Bicycle for Girls - Educate Girls
We give girls bicycles so that they save time on their daily commute and can continue going to school even when it’s in a different village. This has directly led to a reduction in drop-out rates and ensures that girls complete their high school education.
9,000 bicycles have been donated since 2002.
Mann Deshi Champions - Sports for Development
We identify prospective outstanding athletes from last-mile communities, provide them with excellent sports facilities and nurture their overall physical, mental and social development.
- 8000 children have enrolled in our sports intervention.
- 4000 govt. school children have benefited from our Innovation and Curiosity Center.
- 250 govt school teachers have been trained and 50,000 govt school children have benefited.
- 400 girls have enrolled for the Kick-Start Girls programme and over 100 girls have successfully got jobs.
ABOUT US
In 1996, our founder Chetna Gala Sinha decided to set up the first rural bank for women in India to provide a safe space for women to save as well as gain affordable and easy access to credit. She was inspired by Kantabai, a welder from Mhaswad, Maharashtra who narrated an account of being repeatedly rejected by banks when she tried to set up a savings account.
The Mann Deshi Foundation has since grown to supplement the bank by providing access to financial education, skills and a support network for rural women and their communities.
Our Vision
We focus on nurturing and supporting micro-entrepreneurs. Our programmes are developed organically to address needs identified by the women we work with. We continue to evolve and adapt our programmes based on their inputs in order to better suit these needs.
Our Aim
The aim of the Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank was to address a lack of access to formal financial institutions and be a safe space for rural women to save their money.
Today, we work in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka. We aim to reach one million women by 2024.
Programmes
HealthCare
Following the needs of our community during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mann Deshi Foundation worked intensively to provide immediate relief and medical support. As the pandemic recedes, we want our work in healthcare to continue as we have clearly seen the positive impact we can have in this space. Therefore, we are initiating a primary healthcare system that consists of healthcare camps, door-to-door visits and a diagnostic centre. Within our diagnostic centre, we are providing radiology (CT and X-ray) and pathology facilities, these services will be invaluable to the community as it is the only service of their kind in a 70km area which charges government rates.
Mann Deshi Champions
We identify prospective outstanding athletes, provide them with excellent sports facilities and nurture their overall physical, mental and social development.
Business School
Our business schools provide training aimed at building practical and technical entrepreneurial skills that help women set up and expand their business. We also run mobile schools out of buses to offer courses to women in the remotest of areas. We have over a dozen different courses that range from workshops and short duration courses to a year-long Deshi MBA programme.
Community Radio
The Mann Deshi Tarang Vahini (Mann Deshi’s Community Radio) was started to share the incredible stories of women entrepreneurs and inspire many others to start businesses
Chamber of Commerce
Our Chambers of Commerce (COC) are dedicated to advocating for policy change to support women micro entrepreneurs and for helping women access new markets, network with their peers and improve their business practices.
Farm - to - Market
We help bring small and marginal farmers together to aggregate their produce and create direct access to markets in order to help them set better and more sustainable prices.
Cattle Camp
In 2012, the Mann region experienced a crippling drought. Kerabai Sagar, an old customer of Mann Deshi Bank approached the bank to mortgage her gold. “You might loan me the money to buy fodder for my animals but how can I buy water? Who will you work with if we all are forced to migrate to cities?” she remarked. Mann Deshi set up a cattle camp. It lasted over one-and-half years and ensured that 14,000 animals and 4,000 families survived the deadly drought and scorching heat.
Water Conservation
We have constructed 16 check dams and have rejuvenated 517 wells around the Mann Taluka region of the Satara District.
We make this world a better place!
OUR IMPACT
On Women
On Communities
In August 2017, one of our participants in the Para-Vet Goat Programme, Sunita Kamble, was awarded the ‘Indian Women Empowerment Award’ by the Indian government. When she returned home, her entire village came out to congratulate and celebrate her success.
Sarita Bhise, a participant of the Mann Deshi’s Champions programme, is now the captain of the Maharashtra state field field hockey team.
OUR BOARD MEMBERS
George Perry
Faculty, School of Business, George Mason University
Nishith Acharya
Chief Executive Officer, Equal Innovation Senior Fellow, Inclusive Economic Growth, Clinton Foundation
Vijay Perincherry
Chief Scientist, Discourse Analytics & Chief Data Scientist, Indiggo - the Leadership Platform
Advisory Committee
Prabhat Sinha
Executive Director, Community Development Programmes
Empower Change through Giving
Welcome to our Donate section, where your generosity becomes a catalyst for positive transformation. Your contributions directly support our mission and initiatives, enabling us to create a better world for all. Every donation, no matter the size, has the power to make a lasting impact.
1. Mail us a Cheque
2. Donate via Global Giving
3. Donate via Zelle
Please email us to donate.fmd@gmail.com to get more details
