The Inspiring Story of a Mother Who Visits Doorsteps to Fill Out Paperwork and Connect People with Government Welfare Schemes
The Inspiring Story of a Mother Who Visits Doorsteps to Fill Out Paperwork and Connect People with Government Welfare Schemes
тАЛHas helped over 2,200 people through the Citizen Assistance Centre (Nagrik Sahayata Kendra)
тАЛ *By Pallove*
тАЛ *Godda (jharkhand*): Anita Devi, around 40 years old, lives in Chhoti Bakasra village of the Poreyahat block. Once an ordinary homemaker, she used to hesitate dozens of times before even stepping outside her front door, constantly worrying about "what people would say or think." Her family's financial situation was also quite precarious. Today, that very woman knocks on the doors of others not only to help them claim their rights and entitlements, but even to fill out their essential paperwork. She follows up on missing documents from block-level to district-level offices, ensuring everything is complete, and rests only after the beneficiaries receive their due government benefits.
тАЛThe government runs numerous welfare schemes for common citizens. Those who are aware and can make repeated trips to block and district offices manage to avail themselves of these benefits. However, for those standing on the lowest rung in rural areas, welfare schemes often fade out before ever reaching them. Middlemen frequently try to siphon off these schemes midway, claiming benefits in the name of the poor while handing over a meager sum for a thumbprint or signature to line their own pockets.
тАЛTo break this corrupt cycle,
Anita Didi and Neetu Didi step in. They inform the poor and marginalized about various schemes and ensure the benefits are delivered straight to their doorsteps. With the support of the NGO PRADAN, they set up a Citizen Assistance Centre (Nagrik Sahayata Kendra), where any marginalized person can submit an application detailing their grievances. Once an application is received, Anita Didi and her team treat it as their own problem and do not stop until it is resolved.
*тАЛWho is Anita Devi?*
тАЛAnita Devi hails from Chhoti Bakasra village in Poreyahat block. In 2008, she first joined the Maa Sharde Mahila Mandal Self-Help Group (SHG) within her village. In 2009, she took a loan of тВ╣300 from the group to start goat rearing, initially purchasing a single goat, which later grew to two or three. In 2010, she took a тВ╣3,000 loan to purchase a sewing machine, earning around тВ╣1,500 to тВ╣2,000 per month from tailoring work.
тАЛIn 2013, Anita joined the NRLM (National Rural Livelihood Mission) initiative. Transcending her domestic boundaries, she linked up with the Ekta Mahila Manch in Poreyahat block, an organization operating under the guidance of PRADAN. At that time, 362 groups comprising nearly 4,000 women were associated with the forum. On September 25, 2013, Anita gave a presentation on the work of Ekta Mahila Manch in Ranchi, securing project approval, after which she became the organization's secretary. Later, in 2022, she joined the Citizen Assistance Centre.
тАЛ *Delivering Benefits to the Underprivileged*
тАЛAfter joining the Citizen Assistance Centre, Anita began working across the Bargachha Hariyari Panchayat. She started educating locals on various government schemes, including MGNREGA, old-age/widow pensions, disability certificates, livestock development schemes, and crop insurance. Saumya Srivastava Didi from PRADAN kept Anita and her peers informed about newly launched government initiatives, which they in turn communicated to the villagers.
тАЛSeeing Anita Didi at the doorsteps of households that officials rarely visited instilled confidence among the villagers. Anita made it clear that no one had to pay a single rupee for this assistance, and anyone facing an issue could submit a written petition at the Citizen Assistance Centre in Poreyahat. Having earned the community's trust, the centre received roughly 3,900 applications regarding various issues, out of which over 2,200 grievances have been successfully resolved.
тАЛHas helped over 2,200 people through the Citizen Assistance Centre (Nagrik Sahayata Kendra)
тАЛ *By Pallove*
тАЛ *Godda (jharkhand*): Anita Devi, around 40 years old, lives in Chhoti Bakasra village of the Poreyahat block. Once an ordinary homemaker, she used to hesitate dozens of times before even stepping outside her front door, constantly worrying about "what people would say or think." Her family's financial situation was also quite precarious. Today, that very woman knocks on the doors of others not only to help them claim their rights and entitlements, but even to fill out their essential paperwork. She follows up on missing documents from block-level to district-level offices, ensuring everything is complete, and rests only after the beneficiaries receive their due government benefits.
тАЛThe government runs numerous welfare schemes for common citizens. Those who are aware and can make repeated trips to block and district offices manage to avail themselves of these benefits. However, for those standing on the lowest rung in rural areas, welfare schemes often fade out before ever reaching them. Middlemen frequently try to siphon off these schemes midway, claiming benefits in the name of the poor while handing over a meager sum for a thumbprint or signature to line their own pockets.
тАЛTo break this corrupt cycle,
Anita Didi and Neetu Didi step in. They inform the poor and marginalized about various schemes and ensure the benefits are delivered straight to their doorsteps. With the support of the NGO PRADAN, they set up a Citizen Assistance Centre (Nagrik Sahayata Kendra), where any marginalized person can submit an application detailing their grievances. Once an application is received, Anita Didi and her team treat it as their own problem and do not stop until it is resolved.
*тАЛWho is Anita Devi?*
тАЛAnita Devi hails from Chhoti Bakasra village in Poreyahat block. In 2008, she first joined the Maa Sharde Mahila Mandal Self-Help Group (SHG) within her village. In 2009, she took a loan of тВ╣300 from the group to start goat rearing, initially purchasing a single goat, which later grew to two or three. In 2010, she took a тВ╣3,000 loan to purchase a sewing machine, earning around тВ╣1,500 to тВ╣2,000 per month from tailoring work.
тАЛIn 2013, Anita joined the NRLM (National Rural Livelihood Mission) initiative. Transcending her domestic boundaries, she linked up with the Ekta Mahila Manch in Poreyahat block, an organization operating under the guidance of PRADAN. At that time, 362 groups comprising nearly 4,000 women were associated with the forum. On September 25, 2013, Anita gave a presentation on the work of Ekta Mahila Manch in Ranchi, securing project approval, after which she became the organization's secretary. Later, in 2022, she joined the Citizen Assistance Centre.
тАЛ *Delivering Benefits to the Underprivileged*
тАЛAfter joining the Citizen Assistance Centre, Anita began working across the Bargachha Hariyari Panchayat. She started educating locals on various government schemes, including MGNREGA, old-age/widow pensions, disability certificates, livestock development schemes, and crop insurance. Saumya Srivastava Didi from PRADAN kept Anita and her peers informed about newly launched government initiatives, which they in turn communicated to the villagers.
тАЛSeeing Anita Didi at the doorsteps of households that officials rarely visited instilled confidence among the villagers. Anita made it clear that no one had to pay a single rupee for this assistance, and anyone facing an issue could submit a written petition at the Citizen Assistance Centre in Poreyahat. Having earned the community's trust, the centre received roughly 3,900 applications regarding various issues, out of which over 2,200 grievances have been successfully resolved.
