Chetna Sinha wins 'social entrepreneur of the year 2013' award

MUMBAI: Chetna Sinha, Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank and Mann Deshi Foundation were announced as winners of the 2013 Social Entrepreneur of the Year (SEOY)-India award. The award was presented by P Chidambaram, finance minister, in New Delhi earlier this month.
Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank and Mann Deshi Foundation, headquartered in Mhaswad, Maharashtra, aspires to create 1 million rural women entrepreneurs in India by 2020.The group manages three institutions that together help create alternate livelihoods and incomes for rural women: a women-owned rural cooperative bank that extends a range of financial services; a rural mobile MBA school that offers skill and entrepreneurship training; and a chamber of commerce that facilitates market and policy linkages.Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder & Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum, announced the award winner.
"Chidambaram applauded the initiatives of all the finalists and congratulated them for their efforts. He said that the 2% spending by India’s corporate sector on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) will have a multiplier effect in bringing out greater inclusiveness. With CSR becoming mandatory, there is room for funding the social entrepreneurs. He emphasized that the social entrepreneurship, both for profit and not for profit, is essential for the betterment of the society. He urged individuals and corporates to take up CSR work earnestly and create better prospects for a socially inclusive society," according to a press release.
Over 200 applicants entered the ninth annual Social Entrepreneur of the Year selection process for India, and four finalists emerged after several stages of rigorous assessment. An independent panel of pre-eminent judges met on 11 November to select the winner. This year’s jury members included:
* Sudha Pillai, Former Member Secretary, Planning Commission, India; * ShobhanaBhartia, Chairperson and Editorial Director, HT Media, India; * Harish Hande, Managing Director, SELCO Solar Light, India, and a Ramon Magsaysay Award winner for year 2011; * Hilde Schwab, Chairperson and Co-Founder, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, Switzerland; * Kavita Ramdas, Representative, Ford Foundation, India; * Anshu Gupta, Founder and Director, Goonj, India, and last year’s winner of the award; and * Rohini Nilekani, Chairperson, Arghyam Foundation, India.
The winner will be invited to join the Schwab Foundation’s global community of over 250 social innovators.