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Dr. G R Chintala is the Chairman of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), the Apex Development Financial Institution of the country. He is also the Chairman of Asia Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA), an association of 24 countries comprising of members which include Central Banks, regulatory authorities, ARDBs, Cooperative Banks, Federation, Commercial Banks, Agri finance related government agencies, etc. on rural and agricultural finance that helps promote productivity, inclusive growth, self-reliance and welfare of the rural poor in the Asia-Pacific region. He was recently awarded Asia’s Most Promising Business Leader Award 2020-21 by The Economic Times. He is also serving as the Chairman of NABARD Consultancy Services (NABCONS) Ltd., NABVENTURES Ltd., NABFOUNDATION, NABSANRAKSHAN and the Governing Council of Bankers Institute of Rural Development (BIRD), Lucknow. He is also on the Board of prestigious institutions like Institute for Rural Management (IRMA), DICGC and also on the Advisory Board of IIM-Ahmedabad. He has been awarded honorary doctorate in Science by Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad. After his graduation from the prestigious agriculture college, Bapatla, Shri Chintala did his Post Graduation in Seed Science and Technology from the world renowned Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. He joined NABARD as an officer and over the last three and a half decades, has worked in various capacities at NABARD, Head Office in Mumbai and its Regional Offices including Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, New Delhi and Bengaluru. Over his vast experience of 35 years, he has donned many hats. Prior to taking over as Chairman, Shri Chintala was the Managing Director of NABARD Financial Services (NABFINS) Ltd., the microfinance lending subsidiary of NABARD. He was also the Director of BIRD, Lucknow, one of the Premier institutes of the Developing World which offers Training, Research and Consultancy services in the field of agriculture and rural development banking. Shri Chintala was also a Director on the Board of Agriculture Insurance Company (AIC) as also on the board of several RRBs/State Cooperative Banks across the country and National level NBFCs of GOI. As the State level head of NABARD, he has worked very closely with various State Governments and banks at the highest level on matters relating to credit planning and monitoring, funding for Rural Infrastructure and in implementing innovative and pioneering projects. In Karnataka, Shri Chintala has been the driving force in promoting and nurturing Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs), Livelihood Enterprise Development Programs, Area Development Schemes and Alternative energy models. While in Port Blair, he was instrumental in driving the Agriculture growth in the Islands of Andaman and Nicobar by encouraging the import of quality equipment leading to a three-fold increase in price of Copra. He has also been instrumental in establishing an Agriculture Research Centre in collaboration with CARI in the northern islands of Andaman and initiated many development & plantation projects in Campbell of Great Nicobar. Shri Chintala clearly understood the importance of last mile delivery of Institutional Credit and worked towards the incorporation and growth of Financial Inclusion in the country. While heading the Micro Credit Innovation Department (mCID) in NABARD, Shri Chintala conceptualized, designed and rolled out the digitization of the world’s largest microfinance program under project ‘e-Shakti’ and also played a vital role in driving the world’s largest poverty alleviation cum women empowerment program, the SHG movement comprising 10 million groups, covering 100 million members. Shri Chintala has handled several prestigious consultancy assignments including a significant one on “Roadmap for Amalgamation of Regional Rural Banks” in 2006 that led the way for the consolidation of 196 RRBs. He also undertook a consultancy assignment on “Efficacy of SGSY in meeting the aspirations of SCs/STs” commissioned by the Ministry of Rural Development, GOI, whose recommendations helped in launching National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) throughout the country and phasing out the SGSY. Shri Chintala had also successfully introduced the Producers Organisations model in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. As part of his official engagements, Shri Chintala has travelled extensively and visited more than 20 countries including USA, China, European nations, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, Indonesia, Bangladesh etc. for presenting papers on various topics and other assignments covering agriculture and rural development.
