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Like many women in her community in Davangere, Jabeena Khanum had no option but to help supplement her family's income by rolling beedis.
But she always dreamt of more.
Faced with exploitation and unfair wages, Jabeena Khanum went on to become a powerful union leader fighting for the rights of unorganised women workers.
Today, she has helped establish a cooperative bank that gives financial access and dignity to thousands of marginalised families who were once excluded from the system.