Born into the Arunthathiyar community-one of India’s most oppressed groups-Alamelu grew up witnessing extreme exploitation and injustice. Her parents, bonded labourers in Tamil Nadu, toiled endlessly for a meager wage, reinforcing the generational cycle of servitude. At just 10 years old, Alamelu was forced to abandon school and work in the fields after her father fell ill. For over two years, she endured grueling labor, surviving on rice water. Her life changed when a teacher intervened, freeing her and ensuring she completed her education. But the injustice she had lived through left an indelible mark, shaping her resolve to fight for the dignity and rights of her community. In 2005, she founded the Rural Women Development Trust (RWDT) to combat bonded labor, uplift Arunthathiyar women, and secure workplace rights. Through her leadership, she has rescued and rehabilitated 10,000 bonded labourers, ensuring they have access to stable livelihoods, while also raising legal awareness among 30,000 individuals. Recognizing that financial independence is key to breaking cycles of oppression, she has built a powerful network of 180 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) that provide women with financial literacy, entrepreneurial skills, and access to micro-loans. Her work has helped Arunthathiyar women transition from exploitative labor to sustainable income sources such as tailoring, food processing, and small-scale farming. Alamelu’s activism has come at an immense personal cost. She has faced brutal assaults, repeated death threats, wrongful arrests, and the tragic murder of her brother-an act of retaliation by those seeking to silence her. Yet, she remains unwavering in her mission. Her relentless fight is not just about rescuing individuals but dismantling an entire system of oppression, ensuring Arunthathiyar women and bonded labourers reclaim their rights, dignity, and future.