Madhulika Ramteke: From Illiterate Roots to Microfinance Champion

Microfinance Champion & Community Leader

Educating Beyond Her Home

Madhulika Ramteke grew up in a small village in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, in a family where no one knew how to read or write. Determined to change that, she educated herself and then taught her own parents literacy skills. This early act of empowerment foreshadowed a lifetime of community leadership and transformation.

Founding Maa Bamleshwari Bank

In 2001, Madhulika brought together a group of women to start a small savings and loan initiative aimed at helping domestic abuse survivors achieve financial independence. What started as a modest initiative soon became “Maa Bamleshwari Bank,” a women-led microfinance institution officially recognized by local authorities. Today, the bank supports over 80,000 women through more than 5,000 self-help groups, providing them with access to credit, health services, and livelihood opportunities.

Growing with the Land

Alongside financial empowerment, Madhulika led a movement toward sustainable agriculture. She introduced high-yield crops like Elephant Foot Yam, starting with 1.2 million plants and eventually scaling to over 3.5 million. She actively promotes organic farming, vermicomposting, and health-conscious cultivation practices, ensuring rural women not only earn but also thrive.

Driving Social Change

Madhulika's leadership extends beyond finance and farming. She has championed the construction of toilets in dozens of villages, advocated for clean drinking water, fought superstitions, and raised awareness about women’s health and rights. Her tireless dedication has created ripple effects across communities that had long been left behind.

Pioneering Leadership Recognized

In 2022, on International Women’s Day, Madhulika Ramteke was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar—India’s highest civilian honor for women—for her outstanding contribution to women’s empowerment, economic inclusion, and rural development. The award symbolizes national recognition of her decades-long journey from grassroots leadership to nationwide impact.

A Legacy of Empowerment

Today, Madhulika continues to lead from the front—mobilizing rural women through microfinance, championing sustainable agriculture, and proving that transformation begins when one woman decides to lead with courage and purpose.