Kapila Vankar - India's 10 Ordinary People with Extraordinary Tales

Kapila Vankar
With family of 12 members, Kapila Vankar could only hope for a miracle to change her life. Working in the fields and tobacco factory, affected her health. At the factory she was paid Rs 7 a day which is half the prescribed minimum wage. The miracle finally happened when  Vankar joined the Self Employed Women's Association (Sewa). In 1997, she was part of the protest against the meager wages at the tobacco factory. She said, “My family was offered Rs1lakh to back off, but we didn't." Eventually the owner cleared workers' dues. Now she is taking lead in many of the village issues like, building storm-water drains, building pucca houses, etc. Being elected the president of Sewa in 2011, she has met Hillary Clinton, travelled to Washington and New York so far.