I worked with the most marginalized groups in the community such as the
Schedule Castes in the village. They needed help first. I also demanded that
all wasteland of the Panchayat should be put to use in effort to prevent the
land mafias from looting it. In the process, we confronted a very well known
advocate, who is the National Secretary of a political party. I decided to
construct a Panchayat Bhavan on the disputed land to prevent the advocate
from taking it over. It was a direct challenge to such a powerful person, but
I was not afraid, though people threatened. I went ahead and filed a case in
the court against the illegal occupation of the Panchayat land. The other party
eventually had to give way and I started the construction. When the budget
for the building fell short, I sold my daughter-in-laws gold jewelry to complete
the work.
My village is close to the town. All the party politics and fights that happen
in the town affect my village. I am not apolitical, but I believe that politics
should work beyond the party system, so that honesty, not corruption, guides
the political process and schemes for the villages development.
One day, I discovered that a certain document had my stamp and signature.
I had not signed this document. I retraced the document when I found the
person responsible, I reported him to the police. Eventually, the person who
had faked the document was arrested.
No one protests against me, because I am not corrupt. Inside peoples’ hearts,
they know who is right and who is wrong. Though I am not literate, I am
gifted with a very good brain and with courage. These skills have helped me in
my Panchayat work. I have been given un-stinted support from my village and
family, and most importantly, from women. The training programmes have
really brought about a change in my life. To know that I am not alone, that
there are people who understand my cause and support me, deepens my inner
strength and willingness to fight for what is right. Knowing about the Right
To Information (RTI) was like being given a new weapon.
I formed 22 of women’s groups, which carry out different kinds of income