Singer and entrepreneur Ananya Birla won the Ketto Young Changemaker Award for helping raise awareness on the stigma associated with mental illness as well as installing a support system for India’s mental health needs by co-founding a mental healthcare centre.

Earlier this year, the multi-platinum singer songwriter released her debut EP Fingerprint and has already become a huge success.

Along with being the co-founder of Mpower, she is also the founder of Svatantra Microfinance, a company that provides microfinance to women in rural India. She has been a crusader for creating awareness on mental illness throughher organization Mpower and aims to create a society where people with mental health concerns and their caregivers receive professional support, care and acceptance to facilitate their recovery without facing discrimination or shame.

On receiving the award, Ananya Birla said, “This just motivates me to continue to champion mental health, financial health and of course make music that everyone enjoys.”

Varun Sheth, the Co founder & CEO of Ketto added, “Taking on such complex issues as mental illness, microfinance to women and anxiety and depression, Ananya is doing a remarkable job at the helm and has taken her side to the next level. She is also empowering women from the under-served rural areas and fiercely addressing social and gender inequality. She is a true role model.”