KV Rabiya
(Empowerment of Disabled Persons)
About KV Rabiya
- Ms. K V Rabiya was awarded Padma Shri award in 2022 for her major contribution in the field of social work.
- She is a resident of Tirurangadi in Malappuram district (Kerala), she was confined to a wheelchair since she was 14 due to polio.
- Besides polio, she was afflicted with cancer at the age of 32 and later her backbone was affected after she survived a fall. Her heroic fight against odds found its way to school text books in the state.
- She has also authored many books, including her autobiography “Swapnangalkku Chirakukalundu” (Dreams have wings).
Social Work
- She started a small literacy campaign in 1990. Later, the state government launched the state literacy mission and made her the mascot of the project.
- She also founded an organisation called Chalanam which runs six schools for differently-abled and intellectually disabled children in the district.
- Besides this, she started 60 neighbourhood self-help groups for women and trained them to make pickles, carry bags and other products.
