A group of impoverished Indian women’s lives completely changed after they pooled together enough money to buy a $3 lottery ticket and hit the jackpot earlier in July.
In June, 11 sanitation workers combined their money for a chance at a $1.2 million lottery in the southern Indian state of Kerala, the BBC reported. Earning 250 rupees a day (approximately $3), the women struggled to make ends meet, according to the outlet. Many of them were forced to take out loans to provide for their children and other expenses.
After pooling enough funds to buy a $3 ticket, the 11 lucky ladies hit the jackpot in the July 2023 drawing. “We agreed we would get an equal share if we won anything,” 72-year-old Kuttimalu told the BBC. “We didn’t expect to win such a huge amount of money!”
11 Kerala women win Rs 10 crore jackpot after pooling money to buy Rs 250 lottery ticket pic.twitter.com/G0u4UF9LPk
— Indian News Network (@INNChannelNews) July 28, 2023
Five of the 11 women hail from what is considered the lowest caste in Indian society, known as “untouchables,” according to The New York Times. These people, known as the Dalits, face human rights abuses and are frequently the victims of violent crimes, according to National Geographic.
Sheeja Karma, the director of the all-women sanitation company where the women work, said all 11 ladies are hardworking and the sole breadwinners for their respective families. “[L]ady luck smiled on the most deserving people” with this win, Karma told local outlet NDTV, noting the women live in “very humble households fighting harsh realities of life.” (RELATED: Woman Wins Massive Lottery Prize After Losing Her Home In Tornado)
Many of the women expressed their own relief at the win, telling the BBC they will be able to pay off debts and provide more for their children.
Despite their win, the women have all agreed not to stop coming to work. “We decided one thing,” one winner, identified only as “Leela,” told the BBC. “We will not leave this job because it was this collective that brought us prosperity.”