Chinna Pillai
Chinna Pillai is Community leader from Pulliseri, a small village near Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. She started a very successful banking system in the villages in Tamil Nadu and is a champion trying to reduce poverty and debt grievances by empowering women. Her intent efforts in leading a savings unit among women in the debt stricken village of Pullucheri became so successful that soon many groups sprung in the region with equal effectiveness. The Kalanjiam, microcredit movement received a huge boost from her dedication and contributions, reaching out to many women living under poverty. Chinna Pillai is illiterate  and can just sign her name. She was recognised as a leader because of her skills as a negotiator. She bargained on behalf of workers and eventually the employers realised that there may be some benefit in paying higher wages. Although one objected when she did not know her place and she led a bid to take the contract for fishing the local pond. This had traditionally been the reserve of local rich landowners so they hit back when they won the contract. They refused to employ them for other work - so they went to work outside the village. The  group now farm their own fish. Recognition. Chinna Pillai was one of five women to receive the Stree Shakti Puraskar in 1999. In a picture perfect moment for the press, then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee bowed down in respect and touched her feet while presenting her with the award. She received Padma Shri for her service in 2019.