Annapurna Finance Pvt. Ltd (AFPL) was established in 2009 and is now among the top ten NBFC-MFIs in the country. It has its roots as a part of a non-profit entity, Peoples Forum, an NGO dedicated to the development and welfare of unserved sections of society. Microfinance activities began with the inception of Mission Annapurna under Peoples Forum in 2005. The initiative aimed to reach the interior unserved areas of Odisha, addressing the economic necessities of poor women through door-to-door visits.