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Smita Ram
Co-founder & CEO at Rang De
Smita Ram is the Co-founder and CEO of Rang De, a peer-to-peer lending platform based in Bengaluru, India.12 She founded Rang De in 2008 with the mission to expand access to low-cost credit and help overcome poverty in India.2
Professional Background
Smita has over 17 years of experience in social entrepreneurship.2 Before co-founding Rang De, she worked as:
- Finance & Administrative Officer at Oxfordshire County Council (2006-2007)
- Administrator for Children, Young People & Families at Oxfordshire County Council (2004-2005)
- Volunteer at Oxfam (2004)
- Special Educator & Social Worker at Foundation for Action, Motivation and Empowerment (FAME India) (2002-2004)2
Education
- Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, Psychology, and Media Studies from Christ College, Bangalore (1997-2000)
- Master's degree in Social Work - Medical & Psychiatric Social Work from School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya (2000-2002)
- Certificate Program in Entrepreneurship for Women from Indian School of Business (2009-2010)2
Achievements
Under Smita's leadership, Rang De has:
- Pioneered peer-to-peer lending in India
- Enabled over 100,000 low-income families to kickstart and sustain entrepreneurial ventures
- Connected more than 20,000 global Indians from 26 countries to rural entrepreneurs, farmers, and artisans across India3
In 2019, Rang De transitioned from a non-profit to an NBFC P2P (Non-banking Financial Company) regulated by the Reserve Bank of India.23
Highlights
Wayanad disaster is man-made.
These are not my words but of Madhav Gadgil, an ecologist and chairman of an Ecology expert panel.
In the wake of devastating Wayanad landslide which claimed hundreds of life his words resonate more than ever.
In 2011, Gadgil submitted a comprehensive report to the government that proposed conservation of Western Ghats.
Wayanad comes under the most sensitive zone, under Environment Protection Act 1986, where human activities must be bare minimal.
His report recommended.
- Immediate halt to illegal mining
- Ban on plastic usage in the zone
- Control over quarrying and sand mining
- Prohibition of polluting industries
- Construction of only small dams, no taller than 15 meters
- No new railways or expressways
In short, Wayanad needed to be protected as a 'No-development Zone'.
The immediate effects of climate change are inequality.
Again, these are not my words, but the Supreme court of India affirms this.
Every climate disaster disproportionately impacts the poorest who are least equipped to handle adversity.
In Wayanad, more than 200 houses washed away overnight.
Every disaster due to climate change deepens the divide between rich and poor and therefore we need protection.
With 90% of us vulnerable to climate change, it's high time we listen to our ecologists and ensure stricter implementation of law protecting our vulnerable communities.
The government and the people must work together to tackle this pressing issue.
It's high time we take our environment seriously. What are your thoughts on this?
Close your eyes and picture a farmer. Who do you see?
Is it a man in a dhoti or a young boy, helping his family in the fields?
Barely any of us would picture a woman.
What if I told you that 75% of full-time workers on farms are women!?
However -
- Women in farming earn half as much as men, if at all
- They own less than 8% of farming land in India
- They lack recognition and respect
Even though women are silently fighting these battles, their resilience keeps shining through.
Their presence in terms of the workload is
- 70% in livestock
- 47% in tea plantations
- 47% in cotton cultivation
- 45% in growing oilseeds
- 39% in vegetable production
The UN estimates that if women farmers have the same access to resources as men, they can increase their yields by 20-30%.
If there is one thing we can change for these women today, then it is their access to credit.
At Rang De, I am proud to say that 60% of our loans are disbursed to women farmers, entrepreneurs, artisans, etc.
Join our community of 9600+ social investors and invest in the potential of women of India.
Visit our RBI regulated P2P social investing platform to know how you can start your journey as a social investor.
Adding the link in the comments.
#WomenInFarming #AffordableCredit
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Mesh is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Mesh beneficial.
Mesh offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Mesh offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Mesh's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
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