The rise of Manorama Devi, founder of Srijan Mahila Sahyog Samiti Ltd, since 1996 was nothing short of spectacular. Express Photo by Santosh SinghThe year 2003 was crucial for Devi, say police sources. In 2005, she started a cooperative bank, which was not affiliated to the Central Cooperative Bank of Bhagalpur. Sources close to the Srijan management say Devi’s influence started spreading rapidly after the bank was set up. According to former employees of Srijan, Devi had once claimed that she decided to name her organisation “Srijan” after meeting victims of the communal riots of 1989 at Chanderi village in Bhagalpur.

Source: Indian Express August 19, 2017 22:56 UTC