Rajasthan Sarpanch Funds Hockey Dream, Tackles Plastic Waste
A village leader in Rajasthan used her salary to equip and train girls in hockey, leading to district-level success. She also launched a 'Bartan Bank' initiative to reduce plastic waste, which was adopted statewide.
Key takeaways
- Rajasthan sarpanch Neeru Yadav funded hockey training for village girls using her salary, leading to district-level achievements.
- She also established a Farmer Producer Organisation to benefit local farmers.
- Yadav created a 'Bartan Bank' initiative to reduce single-use plastic waste from events.
- The successful 'Bartan Bank' model has been adopted by the Rajasthan government for wider implementation.
Neeru Yadav, the first woman sarpanch of Lambi Ahir village in Rajasthan, has initiated significant changes by empowering young girls and addressing environmental concerns. Facing societal norms that limited girls' opportunities, Yadav committed to transforming possibilities for them.
What Happened
Upon becoming sarpanch in 2020, Neeru Yadav sought to improve the lives of girls in her village. She persuaded parents to allow their daughters to pursue sports and personally funded hockey equipment, coaching, and transportation using her own salary. This effort resulted in several girls achieving success at the district level in hockey.
Beyond sports, Yadav also conducted surveys to enroll girls in government vocational and skills training programs, aiming to improve their access to education and employment. She also established a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) within her Panchayat Samiti to assist local farmers in accessing better markets and increasing their income.
Background
In Lambi Ahir, young marriages were common, and participation in sports was difficult for girls. Yadav's leadership aimed to challenge these traditional limitations and create new avenues for the village's youth.
Key Facts
- Neeru Yadav became the first woman sarpanch of Lambi Ahir village in 2020.
- She used her own salary to fund hockey kits, hire a coach, and arrange transport for village girls.
- Some girls trained under her initiative have won medals at the district level.
- Yadav also established a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) to aid local farmers.
- In 2022, she launched the “Bartan Bank” through her NGO, the Aditri Foundation.
- The Bartan Bank allows villagers to borrow steel utensils for free or at a nominal fee for events.
- This initiative grew from hundreds to over 8,000 utensils.
- The Rajasthan government has adopted the Bartan Bank model for state-wide implementation.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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