About the Speaker

Dr. Medha Purao Samant - Chairperson and Managing Director of Annapurna Pariwar

Tuesday, April 10, 2018
12:30 - 1:45 p.m.
Social Science Building, Auditorium 1021

Pathways to Peace is an annual campus-wide celebration to promote the discussion of activities that significantly and meaningfully impact long-lasting peace across the globe. In addition to the participation of community groups that seek to advance a more just world, an internationally renowned speaker is invited to serve as an inspirational model of success.

Dr. Samant is Chairperson and Managing Director of Annapurna Pariwar and is a well-known social activist in the area of financial inclusion. She is considered an expert in Micro Finance, Micro Insurance, and Gender and Development. As an inspirational speaker, Dr. Samant has spoken to various audiences about her decision to devote her life to uplifting the poor and downtrodden women of India. By leaving her comfortable job at the Bank of India after 13 years, she followed in the footsteps of her parents, Com. Dada Purao and Padmashree Prematai Purao who had devoted their lives to the Trade Union Movement and the Women's Movement.

In 1993, Dr. Samant established Annapurna Pariwar, a Charitable Trust, located in Pune, India. She formed the organization from a group of nine vegetable vendors who were borrowing money at inflated interest rates from private lenders. By giving the vendors loans with reasonable interest rates, Dr. Samant set Annapurna Pariwar on a course to offer various service packages for the benefit of the need based Pune and Mumbai community. Annapurna Pariwar is now a conglomerate of 5 nonprofit organizations working for the empowerment of the poor by providing a comprehensive solution to poverty. In addition to micro finance, the organizations offer micro insurance, day care, educational sponsorship, and a working women's hostel program. 

"As a leader you don't think about what the current trend is, you think about what would be the best for all. As time progresses, the world realizes the impact of the decision and appreciates why that decision was important at that point of time. Whenever I have taken a call of my heart I have backed it up with thorough research and study." --Dr. Samant

Pathways to Peace is co-sponsored by the Coles College of Business and the Interdisciplinary Studies Department and the Peace Studies Program at Kennesaw State University.