Kumar Bahukhandi
Initiative of a rural girl changes social outlook towards women -Photo Credit-CG/PR
In Short
*Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai praises Anu’s passion.
*Chhattisgarh’s daughters are no longer just beneficiaries, they are also becoming carriers of social change – Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai
*Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India praised Anu’s efforts .
Raipur : Anu, a resident of Umarda, a small village in Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh, is today known as “Scooty Didi” all over the country. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai praised Anu’s tenacity, self-reliance and her contribution towards the empowerment of rural women and said that daughters like Anu are the real identity of self-reliant India. The picture of Chhattisgarh’s villages is changing with their courage, dedication and determination because of person like you . .
Anu a girl from a village of Dhamtari becomes an inspirational source for many -Photo Credi-CG/PR
Anu’s inspiring journey is evidence that if there is a passion to do something in the brain then lack of resources, social pressure and traditional thinking can not be barriers on your ways .
Born in a simple rural family, Anu continued her studies even in difficult circumstances and obtained a postgraduate degree in Economics. After this, she joined Chhattisgarh State Rural Livelihood Mission ‘Bihan’ and took training in sewing and embroidery, got a loan of one lakh rupees, and set an example of economic discipline by repaying the loan on time.
Annu understood that mobility is very important for the empowerment of rural women. She learned to ride a scooty from ‘Pratham Sanstha’ and initially maintained her confidence and did not give up despite the taunts and sarcasm of the society. When she started connecting with women from village to village on a scooty, then she came to be known as “Scooty Didi”.
In the year 2023, Anu established the “Women’s Two-Wheeler Training Center”. Initially only 2-3 women took training, but gradually this initiative became a revolution in rural society. So far she has taught more than 30 women to ride a scooty, who have now started reaching places like Anganwadi, school, bank and health center independently.
This initiative of Anu has not only made the daily mobility of women easier, but has also changed the entire social outlook towards women . Now in the villages, parents themselves are sending their daughters and daughters-in-laws to Anu for training. Her dream is to make 1000 women self-reliant and soon start a four-wheeler training center.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that people like Anu are the new identity of Chhattisgarh. The state government is committed to promoting such innovations through schemes like ‘Bihan’, which are bringing change at the grassroots level.
Anu’s contribution is not limited to driving training only. She has also made women skilled in sewing-embroidery, LED assembly, MNREGA works, and household management. Seeing her efforts, Swati Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India and Avinash Mishra, Collector of Dhamtari, themselves visited Umrada village and met Anu and appreciated her work.
The Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India also shared Anu’s story through a Facebook post and said that there was a lack of resources in life, but nothing could shake Anu’s courage. She completed her M.A. and got training from ‘Bihan’ and ‘Pratham Sanstha’ and not only achieved self-reliance, but also became an inspiration for others.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that today the daughters of Chhattisgarh are not only beneficiaries, but are becoming carriers of change. The state government will welcome every such initiative that will accelerate women empowerment, CM Sai said .
