How a student activist turned one woman’s Rs. 5 savings dream into a financial revolution that empowered half a million women
Meet Chetna Gala Sinha – a woman who looked at an entire banking system and thought, “This doesn’t work for women like us. So let’s build something that does.”
Ever felt like the world wasn’t designed with you in mind? Chetna’s story might just change how you see your own possibilities.
When One Woman’s Problem Becomes Everyone’s Solution
Picture this: It’s 1995, and Chetna meets Kantabai, an iron-smith who just wants to save Rs. 5-10 in a bank account. Sounds simple, right? Except every single bank turns her away. Their reason? Her deposits are too small for them to “afford” her as a customer.
Now, most of us might have shaken our heads, maybe helped Kantabai find another bank, and moved on. But Chetna? She asked the question that changes everything: “Why should a woman’s dream to save money – no matter how small – be dismissed?”
Been told you’re “too experienced” or “out of touch” after a career break? Chetna didn’t accept that women didn’t fit into existing systems. She built new ones.
From Student Activist to Banking Revolutionary
What I love about Chetna’s journey – it wasn’t linear. In the 1980s, she was a student activist in Mumbai, travelling across India to fight for land rights. Then she became a farmer. Then she saw a problem that needed solving and became a banker.
Wondering “What’s my calling?” or “Am I too old to start something new?” Look at this. Chetna shows us that your path doesn’t have to follow someone else’s blueprint. Your diverse experiences aren’t scattered dots – they’re ingredients for something unique.
At age 30-something, she founded the Mann Deshi Foundation in 1996. By 1997, she had created India’s first bank for and by rural women. No business degree required. No banking background necessary. Just a clear vision and the courage to start.
The “Small Steps, Big Dreams” Philosophy
What strikes me most about Mann Deshi Bank is how it honored women’s real lives. Traditional banks required collateral that rural women often lacked. So Chetna said, “Fine, use your household items, your livestock.” Other banks found illiterate customers “difficult.” So she created financial literacy programs and simplified procedures.
Building something on the side while managing the home? Starting small because that’s what fits your life right now? Here’s your reminder that small is not less than. Chetna started with one woman’s Rs. 5-10 savings dream. Today, her bank has 105,000 account holders and has facilitated loans worth $50 million.
The Ripple Effect of Believing in Women
But here’s where Chetna’s story gets really good – she didn’t just stop at banking. She saw that women needed more than money; they needed skills, networks, and voices. So she created:
- Business schools for rural women
- A community radio station
- Chambers of commerce specifically for female entrepreneurs
Ever thought, “I wish there was a support system for people like me”? Chetna shows us you can build it. You can be the solution you wish existed.
Recognition That Matters
Today, Chetna has received India’s highest civilian award for women’s empowerment, co-chaired sessions at the World Economic Forum, and spoken at the UN General Assembly. But here’s what’s beautiful – she’s still doing the work. Still in Mhaswad, still focused on that next woman who walks through the door.
Doubt whether your work “counts” or whether you’re making a real difference? Chetna reminds us that impact isn’t measured by where you speak, but by whose life you change.
What Chetna Teaches Us About Starting
Chetna’s journey offers some beautiful lessons for any woman ready to step into her power:
Start where you are. She didn’t wait for the perfect credentials or the ideal moment. She saw a problem in her community and solved it.
Your obstacles are your innovations. When banks said rural women couldn’t fit their model, she created a new model. When they said these women couldn’t be customers, she made them owners.
Think beyond yourself. Chetna could have helped Kantabai find a different bank. Instead, she asked, “How many other Kantabais are out there?” and built something that would serve them all.
Small beginnings, big vision. One woman, one savings account, one village. Now nearly half a million women supported across multiple programs.
Your Turn to Ask “Why Not?”
Whether you’re looking to re-enter the workforce, start a business from your kitchen table, or create something entirely new – Chetna’s story reminds us that the world needs what you have to offer.
You don’t need to revolutionize banking (though you could!). You just need to look around, see what’s not working for women like you, and ask that powerful question: “Why not me? Why not now?”
Because somewhere out there, there’s another woman waiting for the solution only you can provide. When women build for women, we don’t just change individual lives – we change entire systems.
What’s your “Why not?” moment going to be?
Have a woman who’s inspiring you? Share her story with us at workwellwomaniya.com. Because every woman’s journey matters, and every story has the power to light the way for another.