Woman dreamt collector, built trust aiding goldsmiths, students, trans housing

For M Padmavathi, helping people in need was a dream she wished to pursue as a district collector. Although she did not enter the civil services, the 54-year-old from Olaiyur in Tiruchy, Tamil Nadu, found another way to help people. Through the Community Renovation and Organisation Advancement Trust (COROAT), she has spent years helping people achieve financial security and independence.From helping debt-ridden goldsmiths explore alternative livelihoods to supporting disadvantaged children and transgender entrepreneurs, hers is a journey that shows how access to education, finance and guidance can change lives.Meet M PadmavathiM Padmavathi is an MA in Economics. She grew up in a goldsmith family and in her family higher education was not a common scene. Her own professional journey eventually took her into the development sector.