Indira Jena, Mini Nair and Uma Maheshwari established Nirnaya, the first women's fund in 1998.

While there were many funds in existence then, very few however catered to the special needs of women. This and the response of women during the International Conference for Women in Bejing, set the stage for the formation for the first women's fund, Nirnaya.

Indira noted with great wonder how women, most of them illiterates, came together on many issues during the Conference. Their tremendous sense of native intelligence and knowledge in addressing the issues, and their enthusiasm to take on the challenges strengthened her resolve to support such women financially.

Mama Cash, The Netherlands was the first organization that gave Indira Jena initial funds to conduct a study on the viability and scope for setting up a women's fund.

Then there was no looking back. On April 22, 1998 the Trust was set up with three trustees who also functioned as staffers for the first year.

In the first year itself, four fellowships were given from funds raised locally. The rest followed with Nirnaya growing from strength to strength, recentering hundreds of women, marginalized socially and economically.