More than 85% of our clients come from the "priority or weak sector", as designated by the Reserve Bank of India. Around 70% of our clients come from backward castes and scheduled tribes. Mann Deshi is proud to have become the only bank in the country to have more than 11,000 members from backward castes, who serve as share holders and help decide the policy of the bank through the Annual General Body Meeting.
The average age of our clients is 36, and they live in households having at least two children and both in-laws. At the bank their average monthly savings is around Rs. 75 ($1.88).
Mann Deshi is committed to promoting micro-enterprise among its clients. Mann Deshi has 96,000 clients and over 17,000 active borrowers; roughly one-half of these borrowers own micro-enterprises, while the other half are street vendors or day labourers. 100% of Mann Deshi clients are poor women living on less than Rs. 60 ($1.50) a day. The chart below illustrates Mann Deshi's client base.
Clients
