Archana Chitnis

Smt. Archna Chitnis is a leading politician and entrepreneur of Madhya Pradesh. She is one of the foremost and most articulate spokesperson of Integral Humanism envisioned by Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhya jJi and an effective ambassador of this timeless Indian philosophy. A pioneer in the field of entrepreneurship of women, she had conceived the idea of an all-women bank almost two decades ago. She sowed the seeds of entrepreneurship among women and to ensure their initiative and participation in nation's progress, she started Swayamsidhi Bank in Indore in 1998. This helped inculcate self confidence among them and a sense of self-esteem too. This bank is of the women, for the women and by the women. Devi Ahilyabai is her ideal in politics and to create awareness among her electorate in Burhanpur, she has been regularly organizing intellectual activities in her constituency, and also in Bhopal and Indore, with particular emphasis on the political workers. This has immensely helped in their orientation in right direction. And they enjoy in getting involved in activities of public importance. First, in her capacity as a legislator and then as a minister, she opened new vistas of development and embarked upon schemes and programmes, which were often acclaimed ‘different’. Innovative schemes like Nandishala (bank of bulls), which form the fundamentals of holistic development were conceived and implemented by her. These included her campaign for cleanliness since 2008, emphasis on greenery, rain-water harvesting, etc. She piloted the schemes like Ladli Lakshmi and Gaon Ki Beti, aimed at uplifting the girl child. This all is the outcome of her perseverance, her urge to continuous learning. Though her out of the box thinking and efforts have sometimes acted as hurdles in her political efforts, she has steadfastly refused to look back.[4]

Entry into students politics in 1984, University Representative of Devi Ahilya University, Indore and Secretary of Government Degree College Student Union in 1984–85. Former lecturer of Gujarati Science College, Indore.[5]

Former Treasurer of BJP Mahila Morcha. Member of Swayamsiddh cooperative sugar and agricultural industry limited, Vishrampur (Gudi) in Khandwa district and Swayamsiddh women cooperative Bank Limited, Indore and Ojaswini (women's magazine). City Secretary of BJP Mahila Morcha, Indore. State Coordinator of BJP cultural cell. Former executive member of National BJYM. Former state vice president of Mahila Morcha. Former Chief of Girls Wing of ABVP. In 2003, she was elected 12th Vidhan Sabha and remained Minister for Women and Child Development, Social Welfare, Higher Education, Technical Education and Training, Animal Husbandry, Cow Promotion Board and social justice. State BJP's spokesperson. traveled to many countries including Singapore, France, Germany . Elected as Member of 13th Vidhan Sabha in 2008 and appointed as Minister of Technical Education and Training, School Education and Higher Education.

Elected for third time as MLA in year 2013. Smt. Archana Chitnis was inducted as Cabinet Minister on June 30, 2016 in the cabinet of Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan.