Matribhumi Samachar English
Their success stories are inspiring entire communities to transcend economic and gender barriers
The World Day of Social Justice, observed annually on February 20, acts as a critical United Nations-led reminder to address deep-seated systemic issues, including rural inequality, poverty, and exclusion. The day also focuses on fostering rural development, improving access to education, fair wages, healthcare, digital resources and reducing the sharp rural-urban divide. Be it agrarian distress, employment insecurity, generational poverty, the discrimination faced by women, girls and vulnerable groups, this day advocates for eliminating systemic injustice in all its complexity. Amid the intricate, ever revolving realities of rural India, some stories of resurgence signal hope that multidimensional poverty and stagnant gender inequality can be transcended if women are empowered with equal access to resources and decision-making.
Chanda Bhabhar
In Gunawad, Madhya Pradesh, Chanda Bhabhar ‘s life would have remained uneventful if she had not participated in a visioning exercise facilitated by Transform Rural India (TRI). TRI, a development design organisation working on transforming India’s bottom 1,00,000 villages into flourishing localities played a pivotal role in her journey. In 2020, she began to see those rural challenges stem largely from lack of information and inadequate participation of grassroots stakeholders in governance. With TRI’s help, she received training and capacity building on panchayat systems, schemes, and citizen engagement. Eventually, she decided to work as a Panchayat Badlav Didi (governance change vector) and addressed the care gaps due to which women and children in Gunawad were missing critical vaccinations. Mobilising her Self-Help Group network, she submitted a formal application to the Village Organisation, Panchayat, and Janpad office, and successfully oversaw the appointment of an efficient Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) as well as the resumption of regular vaccinations During the second wave of COVID-19, she valiantly combated misinformation and helped Gunawad to achieve 100% vaccination rate. She also organised a Chaupal to disseminate information about relevant government schemes and rural entitlements and continues to offer governance-related guidance to people. Chanda’s dream is to ensure equal access to education, food security, good healthcare and dignified livelihoods in her village. Her story proves that when governance systems are strengthened, entire communities are uplifted.
Reshma Nimana
28-year-old Reshma Ninama hails from the tribal village of Asaliya, Madhya Pradesh and is today a powerful agent of social and grassroots change. Her own life changed when in 2021, she participated in TRI’s visioning exercises. As a trained Health Change Vector, she assiduously counselled mothers about nutrition, balanced diet, sanitation, and hygiene. She guided pregnant women about the importance of timely vaccinations and connected malnourished children to Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers (NRCs). With Self-Help Groups, the Village Organisation, and TRI’s gender programmes, she countered domestic violence, dowry, child marriage, and discrimination. It was this advocacy that resulted in her winning the 2022 Panchayat elections. Since then, Reshma has led from the front to strengthen healthcare, governance, gender equality and has constructed a much-needed Sub-Health Center in Asaliya.The village now also has a Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) , a Village Poverty Reduction Plan (VPRP), and proudly declares itself as a Gender-Sensitive Panchayat. From successfully abolishing dowry, stopping child marriages, imposing an alcohol ban, and ending the use of DJs at weddings to protect pregnant women’s health, she has catalysed change from the ground up. Her dreams include turning Asaliya into a Model Gram Panchayat with gender equality, accessible nutrition and affordable education so that families don’t have to migrate for survival.
Sarita Bhuriya
Sarita Bhuriya’s life in Bhagsur village was once limited to chores at home and the fields. When she participated for the first time in a visioning exercise facilitated by Transform Rural India (TRI), she learnt about the importance of financial agency and became a Change Vector. Through TRI’s support and RSETI training linked to GPCC processes, she grew into a Banking Sakhi despite family resistance. Overcoming her own mental barriers, she began to offer banking services from her home and through door-to-door visits. After two years of persistence, she opened her own kios where she focused on transparent and robust banking services. Her Common Service Centre today serves 30–40 customers daily with cash withdrawals, deposits, and access to welfare schemes and earns around ₹1.5 lakh annually. She not only runs her business and household with confidence but also drives a scooty. During COVID-19, she also disseminated correct information and helped achieve 100% vaccination in her village. She now hopes to expand her services and to also open a stationery store. By making essential financial systems accessible to people, she has not only realised her own dreams but inspired others to dream big.
Founded in 2016, Transform Rural India works alongside rural communities to advance inclusive development rooted in local leadership. As it enters its second decade in 2026, TRI is deepening its gender-intentional approach while scaling community-led models to drive equitable and sustainable change across rural India.
