Women co-operators such as Lakhimi Baruah from north east and Jaswantiben Jamnadas Popat of Lijjat Papad fame have brought laurels to the cooperative movement in the country by bagging Padma Shri award.
Lakhimi Barua started Konoklota Mahila Urban Cooperative Bank (KMUCB), the first all women co-operative bank in the state of Assam. The UCB employs only women and has helped thousands of women in Jorhat, Sivasagar and Golaghat districts of Assam.
Founder of Lijjat Papad Cooperative Mrs Popat is 91 years old.
Each of them has helped women from marginalised communities and empowered them through sheer hard work and dedication.
This year’s list comprises 7 Padma Vibhushan, 10 Padma Bhushan and 102 Padma Shri awardees. Sixteen awards have been conferred posthumously. The list of awardees includes 29 women and one trans person.