Year 1981. A paper picker on the streets of Ahmedabad. Earning a sum of Rs 5 per day and losing it if it was a rainy or cold day.
Year 2015. A cleaning co-operative with 400 members providing services to 45 institutions and residential societies in Ahmedabad with a turn over of Rs 1 Crore per annum.
This is the story of Manjula Vaghela. She is now 60 years and runs the co-operative named Shri Saundarya Safai Utkarsh Mahila Sewa Sahkari Mandali Ltd (SSSUMSSML). She started with 40 women who provided commercial cleaning services. She had been supported by Elaben Bhatt the founder of Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA).
The Saundarya Mandali Collective of 400 women, headed by Manjula
“National Institute of Design was the first institution to give business to us. Next, Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) hired our 15 women,” says Manjula. But nothing comes easy. It took her 5 years to register their co-operative as the officials were not convinced because they were not selling any products but giving their services.
The majority of women are former rag pickers who have under gone several levels of training. Their gunny bag has been replaced by modern cleaning equipments including road cleaners, vacuum cleaners, high-jet pressure, micro-fibre mops, floor cleaners, carpet shampooing machines, scrubbers and extractors.
They have given services to institutions of national repute and also for the Vibrant Gujrat Summit. After hitting the 1 crore turnover milestone Vaghela wants to educate the illiterate women and make them tech-savvy.
Such people are the inspiration to do something for the betterment of society. They not only made a name for themselves but also did something for others who are benefiting from it. We salute Manjula Vaghela for her spirit and determination to do things.
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