GENDER BENDER

In a traditionally male-dominated sales and collection-oriented NBFC industry, Mahindra Finance has devised policies to foster women's inclusion

- VIDYA S.

THE BANKING INDUSTRY may be one of the largest employers of women in India, but its close cousin, the NBFC sector, where most roles are in frontline sales and collection, is a different story. For a well-diversified NBFC focussed on semi-urban and rural locations, the challenge is further compounded. “We find it challenging to hire women [for these set-ups or roles], and more so to retain and sustain them,” says Manish Sinha, Chief Human Resources Officer of Mahindra Finance.

Over 80% of the Mahindra Group company’s 26,000-plus employees are involved in frontline sales and collections, involving extensive travel to remote areas. Yet, gender diversity is a crucial business imperative for the company, which boasts an asset book of ₹96,217 crore and annual income of ₹11,056 crore.