>Scorpions13256 at 22:38, 20 June 2021

2021-06-20T22:38:58Z

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
'''Chinna Pillai''' is an Indian businessperson from [[Pulliseri]],<ref name=vv/> a small village near [[Madurai]]. 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Woman Achiever|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/lf/2002/03/23/stories/2002032301540200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041128120312/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/lf/2002/03/23/stories/2002032301540200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 November 2004|access-date=9 March 2013|date=23 March 2002|first=Vidyashree |newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|last=Dharmaraj}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|last=Doraisamy|first=Vani |title=Chinna Pillai to embark on a major mission|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/24/stories/2007012416461000.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015130942/http://hindu.com/2007/01/24/stories/2007012416461000.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 October 2007|access-date=9 March 2013|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=24 January 2007}}</ref>

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.<ref name=vv>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2001/jan/15spec.htm|title=The Negotiator|date=15 January 2001|first=Rasmesh|last=Menon|publisher=Rediff|access-date=7 July 2020}}</ref>

==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 [[Pranāma|touched her feet]] while presenting her with the award.<ref>{{cite news|title=On an EQUAL footing|date=5 March 2005|first=Anitha |last=Rajachandrasekaran|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/03/05/stories/2005030500910100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131120070357/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/03/05/stories/2005030500910100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 November 2013|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=10 March 2013}}</ref> She received [[Padma Shri]] for her service in 2019.<ref>{{cite news|title=Padma Awards 2019 Announced: Full list of awardees|date=25 January 2019|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/padma-awards-2019-announced-full-list-awardees-95673|access-date=25 January 2019|newspaper=The NEWS Minute}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Social Work}}
{{Nari Shakti Puraskar}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pillai, Chinna}}
[[Category:1960s births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian microfinance people]]
[[Category:People from Madurai district]]
[[Category:Businesswomen from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in social work]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian businesswomen]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian businesspeople]]

Chinna Pillai - Revision history

>Scorpions13256 at 22:38, 20 June 2021