By Dr. R. Balasubramaniam
Kamakshi and her life is an inspiration not just to women, but to all people engaged in the endeavour of human development. I got to know of her through one of my colleagues who interacts with her on a regular basis. Kamakshi and her family reside in Shanbhoganahalli in Hunsur taluk on the outskirts of Mysuru. I met her a few days ago and she came across as any other typical rural woman. But once she started talking about her life and work, I realised that she was no ordinary person. Being born in a poor household with two other sisters meant a life growing up in poverty. Despite the socio-economic challenges, her father insisted that all the three daughters go to school and she managed to get herself a high school education. It was around the late nineties, that her sister got to join a Self-Help Group (SHG) promoted by an NGO in her village. Kamakshi too wanted to participate in it but was denied membership. Not the kind of person to give up, Kamakshi decided that she would start her own SHG instead. That is how the Yashaswini SHG began 20 years ago in April 1999.
