Shanthi, inspired and motivated by the work of SRED, joined them as a health volunteer. She was able to enhance her perspective on awareness of her rights and able to gain her confidence through her various experiences from meeting with government and police officials to conducting and participating in meetings and protest actions. When she started campaigning for women and children's rights in her village, various challenges surfaced as with the fact that caste and gender discrimination and violence was deeply rooted in her community. She in fact, even went to jail and remanded for a number of times for her efforts in asserting for women's equality and advocating for political rights of women.

Despite these challenges, she remained firm in her resolve and demonstrated this when she successfully brought to justice someone from another caste who harassed and sexually exploited a three (3) - year old girl. She was able to put pressure on the police to file the necessary charges against the perpetrator when she, together with hundreds of women, demonstrated in front of the law enforcers while demanding justice. Her intervention inspired hundreds of women and men, and Shanthi was instrumental in reducing domestic violence, child sexual abuse and other violence against women.

Nominated by:  Tamil Nadu Dalit Women's Movement (TNDWM)
E-mail:  tnwforum@gmail.com
Phone No.:  044 - 42170702, 42170703
Fax No.:  044 - 42170702