Maharashtra

The heartwarming tale of Babai, an 81-year old female porter who pulls 400 kgs of weight on her handcart, has been beautifully showcased in this documentary by Kavita Datir and Amit Sonawane, which has been making waves at film festivals. Here's all about it.

A team of enthusiasts from MIT in Massachusetts, USA and Vigyan Ashram in Pabal, an Indian village came together and built a fabulous innovation lab that is providing solutions to some of the most prevalent issues of both rural and urban India. Here are three of their amazing ideas and how they work.

Dr. Rajvanshi saw the physical trouble rickshaw pullers go through and he invented these four electric rickshaws to simplify their work. Modifying the humble rickshaw, he made these amazing vehicles that can also be converted into a bed for the driver and are disabled-friendly too.

This amazing technology called "Lanstove" serves the purpose of a lamp and a stove at the same time. An environment-friendly device, this technology is putting kerosene to a better use. Know more about this unique invention and how it is helping the rural population of India.

Bhavesh Bhatia lost his eyesight in his early 20s. As the light faded from his eyes, instead of lamenting on his fate, he decided to learn the art of candle making and light up the lives of others like him. Bhatia today runs a huge candle manufacturing enterprise that provides employment to hundreds of visually impaired people and has clients across the globe. Read how this inspiring man converted this disability into an opportunity.

A dedicated teacher, a brave government critic, a human rights activist - read how Kavita Karkare was much more than just a martyr's widow. She fought for the truth and helped the families of constables and lower rank police officers to get their due from the government. A strong public speaker and a compassionate listener, here is why the whole country is mourning the death of this amazing soul.

Dr. Armida Fernandez started SNEHA as a hospital-based counselling centre that offered shelter and provided assistance to women facing violence. Soon this small initiative grew into an organisation that has since helped thousands of women stand up against injustice. The organisation works extensively in urban informal settlements to bring about change in women and children’s health. Here's how they are doing this.

Sindhutai Sapkal's life started as being an unwanted child, followed by an abusive husband who abandoned her when she was nine months pregnant. She gave birth to a baby girl in a cow shed and started begging to feed her child. Since then she has adopted every orphan child that she came across. Now, she is fondly called "Mother of Orphans" and runs six organizations for them. Read her amazing and inspiring story of courage and how she emerged as the "mother" of over 1400 orphans.

A rural village near Mumbai had no toilets until Atul Bhide came and constructed over 200 of them. In the alarming situation where people in India have mobile phones but not toilets, we need more such heroes who are trying to make a change at grassroot level. Read his story of change and how he did it.

From a reluctant family to lack of knowledge about the sector, nothing stopped Shuvajit Payne from quitting his well-paying job in London and settling down in a village to teach the villagers English. What is it that drove him to take such a drastic step? And how does he feel about it now? Read more to find out.