Anita Reddy Biography 
Anita Reddy is a social worker from Karnataka who founded Association for Voluntary Action and Services, an NGO which works for the rehabilitation and upliftment of the slum dwellers in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. She is the managing trustee of DWARAKA and DRIK foundations, known for their services to children and women. For her outstanding contributions to the field of social service, Government of India honoured her with Padma Shri in 2011. She is the daughter-in-law of Karnataka’s first Chief Minister, K. Chengalaraya Reddy. Her son Raam Reddy is an international award winning filmmaker of Kannada movies, best known for 2016 film, Thithi – his maiden work.
Anita Reddy hails from Chennai, born into a wealthy industrialist family. She was born to Ranjini Reddy and Dwaraknath Reddy. Her schooling was done in Andhra Pradesh, and for her higher studies she moved to California. After her studies, she married her childhood friend, Pratap Reddy who belongs to an influential political family of Karnataka. Anita got drawn to social activities in the late 1970s. She started working with slum dwelling people, and founded Association for Voluntary Action and Services (AVAS) in the year 1980. Since then she dedicated her whole life for the betterment of the weaker sections of the society.
As a part of AVAS, she took hand in building houses for slum dwellers. She also worked with DWARAKA and DRIK foundations, whose works were concentrated on children's education and women's livelihoods. DWARAKA also aimed at reviving the dying art form of Kalamkari, and help workers to get work in this field. She is also known for promoting many cultural platforms. She was awarded with Mahila Sadhaki Award of the Guild of Women Achievers in 1997.
Published: N/A
Updated: July 02, 2018
