In 1981, She Used To Earn Rs 5/Day. Now, This Ex-Ragpicker Has A Turnover Of Rs 1 Crore.

“A woman is like a tea bag – you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

While poverty is a genuine problem is India, this rags-to-recognition story will certainly leave a smile on your face.

In 1981, Manjula Vaghela used to work as a ragpicker in Ahmedabad for a living.

After collecting scrap for the whole day, she would make barely Rs 5 a day. Little did she know, that she would become the centre of attention in her city one day.

 

Now, she heads a cleaners’ cooperative that which provides cleaning and housekeeping services in 45 institutions and societies.

 

After spending the past 24 years collecting and sorting waste, her turnover in 2015 is  Rs 1 crore per annum.

 
As reported by TOI, Manjula founded Shri Saundarya Safai Utkarsh Mahila Sewa Sahkari Mandali Ltd (SSSUMSSML). “National Institute of Design was the first institution to give business to us. Next, Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) hired our 15 women,” she said.

 

But, life has become smoother for waste collectors now.

The rag-pickers now have modern equipment like road cleaners, vacuum cleaners, high-jet pressure, micro-fibre mops, floor cleaners, carpet shampooing machines, scrubbers and extractors.

Hemaben Parmar, who is associated with Saundarya Mandali for the last 20 years, had to say this:
“Today companies and institutes issue e-tender for contracts and job work which we find difficult to fill as we are technologically challenged. But we shall overcome this too.”

 
She has proved that with dedication and true passion, one can achieve great success, no matter how unconventional the path is.

Source: The Times of India

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