Ranju Singh, Varanasi

CATEGORY: WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE

Social activist Ranju Singh battled against caste system since her childhood and married a outside her caste. She is presently associated with Lok Chetna Samiti, a non government organisation (NGO), has its office near Chiraigaon Block. Fourteen girls from different villages live on the premises of the samiti where they study under supervision of Ranju. Volunteers teach them. She works closely with 200 women associated with self help groups. The women belong to different villages in Chiraigaon and Cholapur blocks and earn for themselves. Some of them are involved in farming while others have set up small shops. She also goes village to village to make women folk aware about importance of education. She got a proposal from a political party to contest assembly polls but turned it down.

NOMINATED BY

SUDHIR KUMAR