Born into a family of landless farm laborers Kalavati Devi is our fellow from Bokaro, Jharkhand knew the value of economic and political empowerment

Her family had very little income and their financial constraints led to her marriage at a very young age.

However she believes that she has been very fortunate as she has a very supportive partner.

Her husband recognised her political brilliance and her oratory skills, helped her gain education till 10th grade, and encouraged her to pursue politics and social work. However, considering the patriarchal set up of her village where women were to remain homemakers, such a revolutionary idea to educate a married woman and support her employment brought this couple under

a lot of scrutiny within their own community. She narrates that “we were targets of a lot of ridicule and opposition”

However, nothing could upset her persistence she started working for many different NGOs and organisations like Swayam Sahita Sangathan for social and economic development of women as well as skill development for women.

She is currently working as a frontline health worker at CDOT that provides medical appointments to distressed women by connecting them with doctors online.

But one thing continued to be a source of despair for her and that was the ostracisation that her caste and community faced at the village Panchayat. Their group is a backbone for the farming and labouring activities yet are are deprived of aid through government policies.

She recalls that the only aid they ever received was under the Indira Gandhi Awaas Yojana, “we recieved a one bedroom house which was about 75,000 rupees.. we had to labour hard so that it could be converted into a 2 bedroom house to fit all members” she recollects”

These experiences entrenched in her the importance of equality and justice.

Indira Fellowship became a platform for her to enhance political presence and represent her community and make her family proud.

Through Shakti Clubs she conducts regular online and offline meetings to educate women about their rights.

She is committed against social evils like child marriage and wants to help women access widow pensions and housing schemes.