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.
