Praveena Solomon

Solomon is an English literature graduate from the University of Madras.^[2] She has also studied Nursing. Solomon was introduced to social work by her mother, who worked closely with social worker Sarojini Varadappan.^{[citation needed]}

She joined the NGO named Indian Community Welfare Organisation (ICWO) in 2004, working as a field officer and educating underprivileged children and sex workers.^[3]

In March 2014, ICWO won the contract to run the 120-year-old Valankadu crematorium. Solomon, as caretaker of the crematorium, faced initial challenges. Initially she did not have the support of the local community, who were opposed to a woman running a burial ground. Some members of the community even threatened to attack her with acid.^[3]

Eventually, she managed to win over the community, with a combination of support from the police and her own hard efforts. Solomon worked to change the looks of crematorium. Now people say it looks like a park.^[3]

Solomon's position marks the first time a woman has running a burial ground in Tamil Nadu, where—like in most parts of the country—upkeep of crematorium is traditionally a male domain.^[3]