Ragpicker-turn-nurse ties knot; Ministers attend ceremony

A woman, whose journey from a ragpicker to a nurse has served as an inspiration for many here, today tied the knot in the presence of Ministers, local politicians and officials.
Banu Sheikh Safi, a resident of Ravidas Nagar, entered into a wedlock with Shabbir Khan, a tailor by profession.
Maharashtra Minister of State for Energy Madan Yerawar of BJP, District Guardian Minister Sanjay Rathod of Shiv Sena, SP of Yavatmal Akhilesh Kumar Singh and a host of other dignitaries were present at the wedding ceremony arranged by her foster brother Prakash Nandurkar.
Banu's life is an example of what grit and determination can do. She lost her father when she was only three.

She, alongwith her mother and younger sister Kshama then started ragpicking on the streets of Yavatmal city to earn a livelihood.
Both the sisters used to walk on the city's streets carrying gunny bags on their shoulders and collected the rags from gutters and roadside dustbins.

After sorting out the rags and other waste materials, they used to sell the scrap to dealers.
However, even while doing the job of ragpicking, they did not ignore their education and studied till Class XII before joining the Auxiliary Nursing and Midwifery (ANM) course in the Government Medical College, Yavatmal.
After completing their course, Banu, in her early 30s, is now working as nurse in a public health centre while her sister opted out of it and preferred to remain with their ailing mother.