In Gujarat there lives Hirbai Lobi of Siddi community. She is illiterate but the work she has done many literates also don't think of doing it. She has encouraged entrepreneurship through various activities including organic fertilizer manufacturing, neem oil production and animal husbandry having brand name "Panchtatva" by setting up 11 all women co-operative societies. More than 600 women are working under this covering 18 nearby villages. They also have mango orchards, coconut trees, vegetables and sugarcane crops. She has formed Self Help Groups (SHG) having more than 95 women working in 12 SHG known as Mahila Vikas Mandal. She has also started a day care school for children followed by a primary school and now her dream is to start a college in her village Jambur. Poplularly called as "The Diamond of the forest" Hirbai is truly an entrepreneur. She is awarded Janki Devi Bajaj Puraskar and CNN IBN Real Heros for her outstanding work in social and rural development and for women empowerment.
She says:
Do good to others and you will get the best. & Selfless service gives you more satisfaction than anything else...!!!
