Dr. Sankar is a double doctorate with a Ph.D in nuclear physics and in gender studies. Also the co-founder of Hand in Hand India, Dr.Sankar has been involved in the women’s self-help group movement in Tamil Nadu for over two decades. She has been a consultant with UNOPS, UNDP, Christian Aid and Wetlands International on Gender and Microfinance. She has authored several books on child labour, microfinance and women’s empowerment. Dr. Sankar was honoured with the ‘Nari Shakti Puraskar 2016’ instituted by the Ministry of Women and Development, Government of India on International Women’s Day (March 8th, 2017) for her contribution to the empowerment of vulnerable and marginalized women.