Maya Vishwakarma: NRI Return, Padwoman of India & Sukarma Foundation Story
Maya Vishwakarma left her UCSF research career to return to India in 2014, fought Lok Sabha elections, and founded Sukarma Foundation. Known as the Padwoman of India, she now works on menstrual hygiene, telemedicine, education, and women's health in rural Madhya Pradesh.
In this story
- Key Highlights from Maya's Journey
- Who is Maya Vishwakarma?
- From a Remote Village to AIIMS and Beyond
- The Journey to the United States
- Life in the US: PhD, Marriage, and UCSF
- The Decision to Return: Anna Hazare Movement
- Fighting the Lok Sabha Elections
- Founding Sukarma Foundation
- Menstrual Hygiene: Becoming the Padwoman of India
- Telemedicine and COVID-19 Response
- Education Initiatives and Model School
- Anemia Prevention Program
- Becoming Sarpanch: Building a Model Village
- The Green Card Question: Bridging NRIs and India
- Advice for NRIs Who Want to Give Back
- Frequently Asked Questions
Maya Vishwakarma left her UCSF research career to return to India in 2014, fought Lok Sabha elections, became known as the "Padwoman of India," and founded Sukarma Foundation to transform women's healthcare and education in rural Madhya Pradesh.
Key Highlights from Maya's Journey
- From a remote village in Madhya Pradesh to AIIMS Delhi to UCSF San Francisco
- Returned to India in 2014 inspired by the Anna Hazare movement
- Fought Lok Sabha elections and came third after BJP and Congress in just 2 months of campaigning
- Founded Sukarma Foundation in 2016 for menstrual hygiene, healthcare, and education
- Set up Madhya Pradesh's first village-level telemedicine center in 2019
- Became known as the "Padwoman of India" for menstrual hygiene work
- Currently serves as Sarpanch and is building a model government school in her village
- Runs anemia prevention programs across 20 villages in tribal and rural areas
Who is Maya Vishwakarma?
Maya Vishwakarma is a US-returned Indian social worker, UCSF cancer-research alum, founder of Sukarma Foundation, and the "Padwoman of India." She returned to Madhya Pradesh to work on menstrual hygiene, rural telemedicine, girls' anemia prevention, village education, and grassroots governance.
| Search question | Summary |
|---|---|
| Why did Maya Vishwakarma return to India? | She wanted to work at grassroots level after the Anna Hazare movement and use her education, US exposure, and village roots for rural health and education. |
| What is Sukarma Foundation? | It is Maya's nonprofit focused on menstrual hygiene, low-cost pads, telemedicine, girls' health, education, skill development, and rural community work. |
| Why is she called the Padwoman of India? | Media and communities use that title because her work brought menstrual hygiene awareness and sanitary-pad production into rural and tribal Madhya Pradesh. |
| What should NRIs learn from this story? | Social-impact return needs local trust, a narrow starting problem, operational patience, legal and financial planning, and community support before scaling. |
For a practical return plan behind stories like this, use the NRI moving back to India checklist, the Desi Return planner, and a Quick Calls planning session.
A Journey of Purpose: "If you think you will retire at 50 and then go back and serve your people, that never happens. I know couples who keep saying 5 more years for 10 years, and then they will die there. There is no perfect time - just take action." Maya's story is a powerful testament to what one person can achieve when they choose purpose over comfort.
From a Remote Village to AIIMS and Beyond
Maya's journey begins in Maharag, a very small village in Narsing district, Madhya Pradesh. It was one of the most remote villages in the district, located on the border of two or three districts. This geographical isolation meant the village was always lacking in basic amenities - good schools, roads, electricity - everything was scarce about 30 years ago.
Maya's educational journey was a series of migrations - from village to village, then to towns, and finally to cities. Each move brought her closer to better educational opportunities, but also further from her roots.
Maya's Educational Journey
- Up to 8th Grade: Government school in Maharag village, Madhya Pradesh
- 9th-10th Grade: Moved to another village
- 11th-12th Grade: Moved to yet another village
- Undergraduate & Postgraduate: Jabalpur
- Dissertation: AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), New Delhi
- Junior Research Fellowship: Nuclear Medicine at AIIMS
During her postgraduate studies, Maya had to complete her research dissertation work at a different institution. She got selected at AIIMS New Delhi, which was a transformative experience.
The AIIMS Experience
"When I went there I felt like this world is different - the research and medical science and scientific research, everything is very different. Moving from a very small village to another town to another city to another big city like Delhi."
At AIIMS, Maya discovered her passion for medical research and patient care. She completed her dissertation in a year and then stayed on, securing a Junior Research Fellowship in Nuclear Medicine.
Being at AIIMS opened doors to conferences across India - from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Maya traveled throughout India presenting her research, attending two to three conferences every year. This exposure would later prove invaluable when she returned to work at the grassroots level.
The Journey to the United States
Unlike many Indians who dream of going to America, Maya never had the "American dream." She had heard the name "US" but never aspired to go there. The opportunity came unexpectedly through her research work at AIIMS.
Maya's initial reaction was that it was impossible - she didn't even have a passport. But her professor encouraged her, explaining that the Government of India provides grants and scholarships for such opportunities.
First Trip to the US: Pittsburgh 2007
Maya's research paper got selected for a Materials Science conference in Pittsburgh. She came to the US for the first time on her own as a research presenter. After presenting her paper, she stayed for a few more weeks to explore scientific research labs in the area.
What impressed her:
- Unlimited access to chemicals and research materials (unlike India where resources were limited)
- Labs open 24 hours - you can work anytime
- No time limits on research
- Abundance of resources that Indian researchers could only dream of
This experience changed Maya's perspective. She realized the vast difference in research infrastructure between India and the US. In India, researchers had to be very resourceful due to limited budgets and materials. In the US, there seemed to be no limits.
The Decision: "I thought no, I don't want to do my PhD in AIIMS. I want to come to US for my PhD program."
Maya returned to India, prepared for the GRE, applied to universities, and secured a full scholarship for her PhD program. She moved to South Dakota to begin her doctoral studies.
Life in the US: PhD, Marriage, and UCSF
Maya's PhD journey in the US took an unexpected turn. While she had always loved medical science and the patient-care aspect of her work at AIIMS, her PhD program was in engineering - a significant shift from her background.
The Challenge of Prerequisites
In India, students specialize early - after 10th grade, those taking biology don't have to take advanced mathematics. But in the US PhD system, Maya had to take all the prerequisite courses she had never studied before.
The Struggle
"I felt really stupid taking all those courses. But then again I had to finish it because my research, my scholarship was coming from there."
Despite her excellent research work, Maya realized she didn't want to make such a big career shift from medical science to engineering. She made a difficult decision - to drop her PhD.
Moving to California
After getting married, Maya moved to California where her husband was working. She joined UCSF (University of California San Francisco) and finally found work that aligned with her interests - leukemia cancer research.
Life in California was comfortable. Maya was doing meaningful research, her husband was working, and they were building a life in the US. But something was always pulling her back to India.
The India Connection
"I'm living in US but still my heart is in India. So I always, first thing in the morning I wake up with my cup of tea, I always follow news - Indian news, Dainik Bhaskar and all."
Despite being physically in the US, Maya remained emotionally connected to India, following Indian news daily and staying aware of developments back home.
The Decision to Return: Anna Hazare Movement
The turning point came with the Anna Hazare anti-corruption movement. While Maya was in the US, she was closely following the political developments in India. The movement against corruption and the subsequent formation of the Aam Aadmi Party deeply resonated with her.
Maya's rural background made her acutely aware of how good politics could transform lives at the grassroots level. She believed that political change was essential for real development in villages like hers.
The Volunteer Decision
Maya decided to participate in the movement. She went to India as a volunteer - not with any intention of staying permanently or fighting elections. Her husband stayed in the US to continue earning ("somebody had to earn bread and butter"), while she took time off for volunteering.
Her condition: "I don't want to go to Delhi because Delhi was like a hub for the work. I want to go to village because that's where I came from, that's where we need more help or more good leadership."
Maya wanted to spread the Gandhian values of the movement at the grassroots level. She traveled throughout her constituency, motivating people and sharing the ideology. Her plan was simple - volunteer for a while and then return to the US to resume her research career.
But fate had other plans.
Fighting the Lok Sabha Elections
What started as volunteering work gradually evolved into something much bigger. As Maya traveled across her constituency, people began asking her to contest the elections.
Maya initially planned to return to the US after volunteering. But during the two to three months of campaigning, she faced criticism that changed her perspective.
The Criticism That Changed Everything
"People gave me kind of different comments like 'Oh she's a parachute rider - she came from US, she will lose, she will go back. If she wins then only she can stay here.'"
This criticism hit Maya hard. She wasn't there for power or typical politics - she was there to improve lives and spread a message. She decided to prove herself.
The Election Results
In Madhya Pradesh, which traditionally has only two major parties (BJP and Congress), Maya came third in the Lok Sabha elections. For a newcomer with just two months of campaigning, this was remarkable.
What the Results Meant
- Third position in a two-party state in just 2 months of campaigning
- Strong support from highly educated voters
- Proof that people trusted her message and vision
- Motivation to continue working for her village area
"Third position in two months is kind of impossible. So then I got very motivated. I thought no, people have trusted. So I had to keep that trust and I have to do something at least."
The election results, though not a victory, were a validation. Maya decided to stay and continue her work. She made a documentary film on social issues, showcasing a village that conducted unanimous elections (without voting) and received government prizes for improving their school, roads, and hospital. The documentary won prizes in San Francisco and other countries.
Maya also wrote a book (available on Amazon) about her experiences and vision for rural development.
Founding Sukarma Foundation
After the elections and documentary work, Maya realized she needed a formal organization to channel her efforts. In 2016, she founded Sukarma Foundation; the official founder profile and public project pages position the work around rural and tribal communities, women's health, telemedicine, and education.
Sukarma Foundation: The Beginning
"I was very naive in the field. I never ran any organization or any industry or factory. But you learn by doing something."
The foundation started with menstrual hygiene as its first project, but quickly expanded as Maya discovered that solving one problem often revealed another.
Maya's approach was unique - she started everything from her own village because she could relate to the people and understand their problems firsthand. Her medical background from AIIMS, her outsider status as someone from the US, and her local roots (she speaks Bundelkhandi dialect) gave her a unique advantage. For NRIs considering similar social impact work, understanding how to start a nonprofit in India is essential.
The Foundation's Philosophy
"After one problem we are addressing, another problem arises. So then we saw like okay, whatever comes we should focus, we should accept the problems actually."
This adaptive approach allowed Sukarma Foundation to grow organically, responding to the real needs of the community rather than imposing predetermined solutions.
Current Projects
Today, Sukarma Foundation runs multiple projects across health, education, and women's empowerment:
Sukarma Foundation Projects
| Project Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Menstrual Hygiene | Sanitary pad manufacturing factories (hiring only women), awareness campaigns across 16 districts |
| Telemedicine | First village-level telemedicine center in Madhya Pradesh (2019) |
| Education | Computer labs, tailoring training centers, model government school adoption |
| Anemia Program | Health checkups for girls over 12 years across 20 adopted villages |
| Community Hospital | Recently purchased land in tribal area to build a community hospital |
Menstrual Hygiene: Becoming the Padwoman of India
Menstrual hygiene was a deeply personal issue for Maya. Growing up in a remote village, she had experienced the traditional practices and taboos firsthand. She knew the health issues that resulted from poor menstrual hygiene.
The idea had been brewing since 2011, but Maya never got the chance to act on it until after the elections. She learned about Arunachalam Muruganantham (the "Padman" whose story was later made into a Bollywood film) and reached out to him.
Meeting Padman
"I got this guy called Padman. His name is Arunachalam Muruganantham. He lived in Coimbatore. That time he was not that famous actually. He was just a normal guy."
After several attempts to meet (they kept missing each other), Maya finally visited him in his village two years later. She learned how to buy the machines and set up factories for sanitary pad manufacturing.
The Campaign
In 2016, when Maya started her menstrual hygiene work, the topic was still a big taboo in rural areas. There was no Padman movie yet to create awareness. Maya leveraged her election campaign experience to run a massive awareness campaign.
The Approach: Maya traveled extensively across 16 districts for two to three months, never coming home, always on the road. Her election background meant everyone knew her - the media, the administration - and she got good response wherever she went.
Her unique advantages made the work easier:
- Medical background: She could talk about the topic with authority
- Outsider status: Coming from the US made people more receptive
- Local roots: She spoke Bundelkhandi and could become "one of them"
- Election recognition: People already knew and trusted her
The Padwoman of India
When the Padman movie was being made, media noticed that Maya was actually working on the ground at the grassroots level. They reached out and said: "Real Padman is different, but real Padwoman is here."
Since then, Maya has been known as the "Padwoman of India" for her work in menstrual hygiene.
The foundation's factories hire only women, providing employment while producing affordable sanitary pads for rural and tribal communities.
Telemedicine and COVID-19 Response
Maya's village area had no hospital - the nearest district hospital was 100 kilometers away. Due to sand mining, the roads were in terrible condition, and no ambulance or car could easily reach the area. Healthcare was a major issue, especially for poor people who couldn't afford transportation or doctors for primary symptoms.
Setting Up Telemedicine
Maya connected with a telemedicine company from Bangalore. Initially, they were reluctant because she was buying just one setup while they worked in mass quantities. But she convinced them to start small.
The Result: In 2019, they set up the first telemedicine center in a village in Madhya Pradesh. While the government had set up telemedicine in big cities like Bhopal and Jabalpur, Maya's center was the first in a village.
They hired a local girl and trained her as a nurse. They also brought in a staff nurse from the city, paying her double salary to work in the remote area.
COVID-19: The Ultimate Test
Just a year after setting up the telemedicine center, COVID-19 hit. Maya's clinic became the only healthcare facility open in the remote area.
Maya stayed on the ground for almost a year during COVID - flights were cancelled, and she couldn't return to the US. But this "excuse" allowed her to do intensive work.
The Delta Wave Crisis
During the Delta wave, the situation was devastating. People were dying, and villagers didn't want to go to big cities because "whoever is going was not coming back - not even their dead bodies."
The villagers said: "At least we will be surrounded by our loved ones. Whatever you want to do, you can do - we don't want to go out."
Maya's response was remarkable:
COVID-19 Response
- Transformed the entire area into an open COVID zone
- Leveraged AIIMS network - doctor friends from US, Canada, Australia helped via telemedicine across time zones
- People sent oxygen concentrators, pulse meters, masks from abroad
- Assisted families with blind, disabled, or elderly members
- Worked without vaccine initially - the whole staff was unvaccinated
- Result: Nobody died in their coverage area
The COVID response lasted six to seven months. It was a massive team effort that saved the entire area.
Education Initiatives and Model School
During COVID, another problem emerged - schools were closed, and children from poor families had no phones, tablets, or computers for online learning. Kids were forgetting everything they had learned, and Maya feared massive dropouts.
Computer Lab Initiative
Maya set up computer labs in nearby towns with help from NRI friends who sent used laptops. Students could come to do their homework and attend online classes. They hired tutors, and everything was free for the students.
Tailoring Training Center
When the computer center opened, many women showed up asking for work. They had lost their jobs as maids and domestic helpers during COVID. Maya couldn't provide jobs, but she could provide skills.
The Solution: A tailoring training center where uneducated women could learn stitching. With machines costing just Rs. 5,000-6,000, they could work from home and support their families. This program continues today.
The Model School Vision
Maya's biggest education project is transforming her village's government school into a world-class model school. The school where she studied up to 8th grade had deteriorated - the building had collapsed, only a few rooms remained, and most students had shifted to private schools. The poorest children were left in a government school with no infrastructure.
Maya took a pledge - her "guru dakshina" to her school - to transform it into a model school. Her vision is unique:
The Model School Vision
- Include agriculture and horticulture in the curriculum (the area has good land and irrigation)
- Teach scientific farming methods and AI technology in agriculture
- Create skilled workers and job creators, not just job seekers
- Connect children to their farming roots while giving them modern skills
- Show that farmers can become millionaires in their own villages
To implement this vision, Maya realized she needed to be part of the government system. This led to her decision to become Sarpanch.
Anemia Prevention Program
Through the telemedicine clinic, Maya noticed a disturbing pattern - many women in their 30s and 40s were coming with severe health issues. In the US, 80-year-old women run marathons, but village women were giving up on their health much earlier.
Maya connected with a gynecologist in the US to understand the root cause. The problem was clear:
The Root Cause
- Early marriage (18-19 years) when women are not physically ready
- Multiple pregnancies in quick succession
- Poor nutrition - women eat last and eat the least healthy food
- No exercise culture
- Vegetarian families lacking protein and iron
- Government focus only on pregnancy period, not on girls' health before marriage
The solution was to focus on girls from age 12 - if they are healthy and fit before marriage, they can deliver healthy babies and avoid the cascade of health problems.
The Anemia Program
The program checks all girls over 12 years old across 20 adopted villages (5-10 in tribal areas, 5-10 in regular areas). The gynecologist from the US funds the program and personally visits - traveling from the US to Maya's village, staying there, hiring community health workers, and going to hills and tribal areas.
Results after 2 years: Significant improvement. Girls who had menstrual cramps and unnecessary pain saw these issues disappear because they now focus on diet, exercise, and overall health outlook.
Becoming Sarpanch: Building a Model Village
Maya's journey to becoming Sarpanch was driven by her vision for the model school. She realized that to build a school on government land, she needed to be part of the government system.
The Panchayat Election Strategy
When panchayat elections came (delayed by 2 years due to COVID, making it a 7-year term), Maya convinced the entire village to elect all women to the panchayat. Her pitch was simple:
"See, I already fought Lok Sabha election so I don't have to fight this panchayat election. Let's be fair - we want to get 15 lakh rupees from the government. Why can't we choose all women in our panchayat?"
Everyone agreed, and they formed an all-women panchayat. Maya became Sarpanch.
However, progress has been slow due to election cycles:
- After becoming Sarpanch, Vidhan Sabha elections came - 6 months of code of conduct, no government work
- After Vidhan Sabha, Lok Sabha elections - another 6 months of code of conduct
- After Lok Sabha, rainy season - 4 months when construction is impossible
Now, with the election cycles over, Maya is finally moving forward with the school construction. The old structure needs to be demolished and students shifted to a temporary location before building can begin.
Current Status: Maya barely spends time in the US now. She just came for a month because of green card requirements, but most of her time is in India. The foundation is growing, the team is expanding, and projects are increasing with good results.
The Green Card Question: Bridging NRIs and India
A common question for NRIs doing social work in India is about their immigration status. Maya's answer is refreshingly clear.
Maya maintains her green card not for personal benefit, but as a strategic tool for her foundation's work. Her husband has renewed his green card multiple times, but neither wants to become US citizens. According to USCIS guidelines, green card holders must maintain their permanent residence status through physical presence requirements.
Why Maintain the Green Card?
- Fundraising: The US nonprofit helps raise funds for India projects
- Resource mobilization: NRIs have resources (money, expertise, used items) that can help India
- Bridge role: Maya connects NRIs who want to help with grassroots opportunities
- Expertise sharing: NRIs can contribute their professional skills, not just money
The Bridge Between NRIs and India
Maya sees herself as a bridge between NRIs and local communities. Many NRIs want to donate and help but don't know how or where. They don't know which organizations to trust.
How NRIs Can Help
Maya's message to NRIs: "We are not always looking for money. We can also look for your expertise. You can come and learn - lot of interns actually come and live in our place and explore local communities."
Example: A friend's 7th-grade daughter in Cupertino teaches English online to poor kids in India every Saturday. She even celebrated her birthday online by throwing a party for those kids. "She's also learning something from the students, and she's seeing lot of happiness in those kids."
Maya collects winter clothes and other items from the US to bring to India. Good quality jackets that people in the US want to give away can last 10 years for kids in Indian villages.
Advice for NRIs Who Want to Give Back
Maya's advice comes from years of experience working at the grassroots level while maintaining connections in the US.
Maya's Key Advice
- Don't wait for the perfect time: "If you think you will retire at 50 and then go back and serve your people, that never happens. I know couples who keep saying 5 more years for 10 years, and then they will die there."
- Start now, from where you are: You can contribute from the US using digital tools. 5G is available even in Indian villages.
- Start with your native village: You can relate to people there and understand their problems.
- Give expertise, not just money: Your professional skills can be more valuable than donations.
- Visit villages: See how happy people are despite fewer resources. It will change your perspective.
The Three Things That Never Align
"Energy, money, and time - these three things will not be together. When you have one thing, other will be missing. When you have other thing, the other one will be missing. So there's never a perfect time - you have to take action."
Maya emphasizes that living in the US can make people materialistic over time. The same parties, the same lifestyle - it becomes a kind of "sickness." But visiting villages and serving communities brings fulfillment that material success cannot provide.
How Maya Started
People often ask Maya how she started. Her answer is simple:
"I never thought I will start. It's just an instinct that came - okay, you have to do. I started. I never shared any idea with my family or anyone that I'm going to do this. If I said them, they will say no. So I started, then they came to know - okay, she can't listen to anybody."
The key is to just begin. Don't overthink, don't wait for permission, don't wait for the perfect plan. Start with what you have, where you are, and let the journey unfold. Many NRIs find that proper financial planning before returning to India gives them the freedom to pursue meaningful work.
Want to Make an Impact Like Maya?
Whether you're planning to return to India or want to contribute from abroad, there are many ways to make a difference. Connect with our community of returnees and social impact makers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Maya Vishwakarma?
Maya Vishwakarma is a US-returned Indian social worker, UCSF cancer-research alum, founder of Sukarma Foundation, and the Padwoman of India. She returned to Madhya Pradesh to work on menstrual hygiene, rural telemedicine, girls' anemia prevention, village education, and grassroots governance.
What is Maya's background and how did she end up in the US?
Maya is from Maharag, a very small and remote village in Narsing district, Madhya Pradesh. She completed 8th grade in her village's government school, then moved to different villages for further education, eventually reaching Jabalpur for her undergraduate and postgraduate studies. She got selected for her dissertation work at AIIMS New Delhi, where she completed her research in nuclear medicine. Her professor encouraged her to present her research paper internationally, which led to her first trip to the US for a conference in Pittsburgh in 2007. Impressed by the unlimited research resources and 24-hour lab access in the US, she decided to pursue her PhD there and moved to South Dakota on a full scholarship.
Why did Maya leave her PhD program and what did she do after?
Maya started her PhD in engineering at South Dakota but didn't enjoy it because she missed the medical science environment she had at AIIMS. She felt disconnected from patient care and the rewarding nature of medical research. Additionally, she had to take prerequisite courses in subjects she hadn't studied before (like advanced math), which felt frustrating. After getting married, she dropped her PhD and moved to California where her husband was working. She then joined UCSF (University of California San Francisco) to work on leukemia cancer research, which aligned better with her interests in medical science.
What motivated Maya to return to India in 2014?
Maya was always emotionally connected to India - she would wake up every morning with her cup of tea and follow Indian news through Dainik Bhaskar. The Anna Hazare anti-corruption movement and the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party deeply inspired her. She was also influenced by Obama's speeches and wondered why India couldn't have similar leadership. Coming from a rural background, she believed good politics could play a big role in improving lives. She went to India as a volunteer to spread the Gandhian values of the AAP movement, specifically wanting to work at the grassroots level in villages rather than in Delhi. Her husband stayed in the US to earn while she took time off for volunteering.
How did Maya end up fighting the Lok Sabha elections?
Maya initially went to India only as a volunteer to motivate people and spread the ideology of the Aam Aadmi Party. While traveling throughout her constituency and volunteering, people encouraged her to fill the election form and contest. After two to three months of campaigning, she faced criticism - people called her a "parachute rider" who came from the US and would leave if she lost. This motivated her to prove that she wasn't there for power but to improve lives. She came third in the elections after BJP and Congress (in MP which traditionally has only two major parties). Coming third in just two months of campaigning, especially with highly educated voters supporting her, motivated her to continue working for her village area.
What is Sukarma Foundation and what projects does it run?
Sukarma Foundation was started by Maya in 2016. Its projects include: 1) Menstrual Hygiene - Setting up sanitary pad manufacturing factories that hire only women, conducting awareness campaigns across 16 districts in tribal and rural areas. Maya became known as the "Padwoman of India" after meeting Arunachalam Muruganantham (Padman). 2) Telemedicine - Set up Madhya Pradesh's first village-level telemedicine center in 2019, which became crucial during COVID-19. 3) Education - Computer labs for underprivileged children, tailoring training centers for women, and adopting a government school to transform it into a model school. 4) Anemia Program - Checking and treating anemia in girls over 12 years old across 20 adopted villages. 5) Community Hospital - Recently purchased land in tribal area to build a community hospital.
How did Maya's foundation help during COVID-19?
Maya's telemedicine clinic was the only clinic open in the remote area during COVID-19. They saw patients from morning to evening for flu and other issues. During the Delta wave, when people were dying and didn't want to go to big cities (because those who went weren't coming back, not even their dead bodies), Maya's team transformed the entire area into an open COVID zone. She leveraged her AIIMS network - doctor friends from the US, Canada, and Australia helped via telemedicine across different time zones. People sent oxygen concentrators, pulse meters, and masks. The team assisted families with blind, disabled, or elderly members. Maya stayed on the ground for almost a year during COVID, working without a vaccine initially. They saved the entire area - nobody died in their coverage zone.
Why does Maya maintain her US green card despite wanting to stay in India?
Maya says she can give up her green card "anytime, any second" - it's not her lifetime goal. She maintains it primarily because: 1) They have a nonprofit in the US as well, and coming to the US helps raise funds and share ideas. 2) She serves as a bridge between NRIs and local communities - NRIs want to donate and help but don't know how or where. She connects them with grassroots opportunities. 3) NRIs have resources (money, expertise, used laptops, winter clothes) that can help tremendously in India. For example, a friend's 7th-grade daughter in Cupertino teaches English online to poor kids in India every Saturday. Maya's husband has also renewed his green card multiple times but neither wants to become US citizens.
What is Maya's advice for NRIs who want to give back to India?
Maya's key advice: 1) Don't wait for the perfect time - "If you think you will retire at 50 and then go back and serve, that never happens. I know couples who keep saying 5 more years for 10 years, and then they will die there." 2) You can contribute from the US itself using digital tools - 5G is available even in Indian villages. 3) Start with your native village where you can relate to people. 4) Don't just give money - give your expertise and time. 5) Energy, money, and time are never together - when you have one, others are missing. There's no perfect time, just take action. 6) Visit villages to see how happy people are despite fewer resources - it will change your perspective. 7) Connect with existing nonprofits or simply start something in your nearby village.
Ready to Make Your Return Count?
Maya's story shows that returning to India can be about more than just personal comfort - it can be about creating lasting impact. Whether you want to start a nonprofit, contribute your skills, or simply connect with like-minded returnees, we're here to help.
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