Our Founder, Our Force: Namita Banka and the Cartier Women’s Initiative
- Team Banka Bio
- May 28
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 13
Introduction
At Banka Bio, our journey began with one woman’s determination to change what was never meant to be normal — the lack of safe, dignified sanitation for millions. That woman is our founder, Namita Banka. Over the years, her work has been recognised by many, but one relationship that has deeply shaped both her growth and ours is the one with the Cartier Women’s Initiative (CWI).
This page traces that relationship, from the early days of being a laureate to the global stage in Osaka. It’s a story of impact, resilience, and what can happen when women are given the space to lead.
A Bold Beginning: 2013 Laureate, Asia-Pacific Region
In 2013, Namita was selected as the Asia-Pacific Laureate for the Cartier Women’s Initiative. At the time, Banka Bio was still a young company taking on a massive challenge — India’s sanitation crisis. With a background in environmental science and a firm belief that sanitation solutions must be both ecological and inclusive, Namita had started developing and deploying biodigesters across India.
Being part of CWI gave her global visibility, a powerful network, and a sense of validation for a cause often overlooked. It wasn’t just an award — it was a catalyst.
Building Toilets. Rebuilding Dignity.
Namita's vision has always been simple: every person deserves a toilet that’s clean, safe, and sustainable. What started with pilot projects quickly scaled into full-fledged sanitation programs with Indian Railways, government schools, and remote villages.
Through CWI’s support and continued engagement, Banka Bio was able to take bigger leaps, reaching underserved communities, advocating for policy change, and innovating for scale.
To date, we’ve:
Installed over 30,000+ bio-toilets across India
Brought sanitation access to over 1500+ government schools
Created hundreds of jobs for sanitation workers and rural women
Served clients from Indian Railways to builders, NTPC, and more
Treated 3+ billion liters of water
2025: The Impact Award for "Improving Lives"
Twelve years after she first became a CWI Fellow, Namita was awarded the 2025 CWI Impact Award in the “Improving Lives” category. This award recognised not just early innovation, but sustained, long-term impact.
By 2019, India had become 99% open defecation-free. The groundwork for this shift had been laid by many, but Namita’s role in accelerating the change, especially in hard-to-reach areas, was undeniable.
From building eco-friendly toilets to setting up sewage and faecal sludge treatment systems, her work is redefining what inclusive sanitation infrastructure can look like.
From Awardee to Advocate: Giving Back to the Community
Namita remains deeply involved with the CWI community as a mentor, jury member, and advocate for the next generation of women entrepreneurs. Her focus has shifted from being the only woman in the room to ensuring there is never only one again.
She continues to mentor women-led social businesses across sectors, and in 2025, she was featured on CWI’s official blog as a voice of experience, courage, and commitment.
What This Means to Us
CWI has been more than a recognition platform. It’s been a community — one that believed in us early, stayed connected, and amplified our story globally. At Banka Bio, we carry forward the spirit of that partnership every day — in how we build, lead, and serve.
As Namita often says:
“Shit is a serious business.”
We’re proud to walk this journey with her and grateful to CWI for being part of our story.
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