Hyderabad, May 23: For J Nagamani, who received the Millennium Mahila Siromani award from former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, the journey from a remote thanda to a senior post in Delhi was not a simple one.

Unlike some of Banjara parents, her parents did not sell her for some money. Born in a thanda near Miryalaguda, her parents shifted to another thanda in Khammam. “In my childhood, girls were sold for half-a-bag of maize, not money,” she said.

After her M Phil from Delhi University and took a diploma in developmental planning and policy. She started her career as an officer withe Civil supplies department and created a record of sorts by collecting Rs 76 lakhs dues within four months.