Commonly known as the "Mother of Orphans", Sindhutai Sapkal has adopted and taken care of over 1050 orphans and children who were abandoned by their parents.

She had been abandoned by her husband when she was 9 months pregnant and she has often recalled how she gave birth to her daughter without anyone's help. She cut the umbilical cord with a stone. She also began begging when her own mother refused to shelter her during this time.

Soon, she adopted those around her who couldn't earn and didn't have parents to take care of them. She has won over 7500 awards. She has devoted her entire life for orphans. As a result she is fondly called 'Mai' (mother). She has nurtured over 1050 orphaned children. As of today, she has a grand family of 207 son-in-laws, 36 daughter-in-laws.

Mai is always trying to give a good standard of living to her children along with food, clothing, shelter, education and rehabilitation.