From a stone cutter in Puharu village to a sarpanch of Rajasthan’s Harmada gram panchayat, Narouti has waged an unrelenting battle for empowering the marginalised
Four kilometers from the famous village of Tilonia is Harmada. A land of freedom fighters, Harmada today has a dalit woman sarpanch -- Nauroti.
This plucky woman had earned a name in the region for her struggle against injustice long before she was elected to this post a few years back. As she walks towards you, bare foot and clad in a simple, inexpensive sari, Nauroti is a picture of humility but the moment you start talking to her you know that she is no ordinary woman and no ordinary sarpanch either.
Nauroti was born in an extremely poor dalit family in Kishangarh district of Rajasthan and had to work on a road construction site for a living as a stone cutter. But despite the toil, she and many fellow labourers were not paid full wages on the pretext that they had not performed work according to the wages. It was like putting salt on fresh wounds, she felt. Nauroti raised her voice against this injustice, mobilised labourers and became the voice of the agitation. Finally they got justice when their case was taken to a court by an NGO.
That was more than three decades ago. From then till now, Nauroti has continued her unrelenting battle for empowerment of the marginalised and her journey from a stone cutter in Puharu village to a sarpanch of gram Panchayat in Harmada is the story of unflinching courage and impeccable honesty in the face of every adversity.
It was in the early 1980s that she joined the barefoot college in Tilonia founded by Bunker Roy. What made her stand apart from other women was her boldness, her ability to learn fast and above all the leadership qualities she displayed when she mobilised the construction workers. She became a sathin for women’s empowerment and would travel to villages in the region and educate them about their rights. She also joined adult literacy classes and later learnt to work on computers. Later, she trained many other women who had never gone to school like her. She has also had the chance to go to the US and China.
Above everything else, it is working amongst the people that gives her real satisfaction, she says. Nauroti first became member of her gram panchyat – Harmada -- and about three year back was elected as its sarpanch with an overwhelming majority.
As sarpanch, she waged a battle against the daru (alcohol) mafia and stopped encroachment of the graveyard in Harmara. She has been working tirelessly to get approval for development projects in the region and has achieved a lot in the past two and a half years. Nauroti says that there are two things she can never tolerate -- injustice and dishonesty. When it came to her notice that a mate working for a project of the Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme was committing fraud, she immediately took action. Despite resistance from many quarters, she did not stop till the person was jailed.
It is the villagers who talk about what she has done for them and the development of the village, whether it is the construction of water bodies, hand pumps, toilets, houses for those below poverty line, but when you ask her, she speaks about her unfinished agenda. “There is a lot more to be done before my tenure is over”, she says and lists a number of projects that remain to be completed.
Keywords: Dalit, women empowerment, Harmada, Nauroti
Ms.Nauroti's story of noble achievements and her amazing love of honesty and justice surely stand out as an oasis in the desert of all round corruption and the parasitism of politicians who live shamelessly preying upon public money.Let a thousand Naurotis flourish and save this country.
This is such an inspiring truth. Keep sharing such kind of articles.
Thanks
True grit! Very inspiring and is a role model for others.
very inspiring!! when educated ones and the people in power are ruining the country, the downtrodden ones are the most affected. There are many women like Nauroti who still hasn't come to the limelight. When all such Naurotis come out only then India could emerge out.
Only a dalit woman has transformed but not any Gandhiyans in that famous village of Tilonia in Harmada,a land of freedom fighters.
Nauroti is an example in courage and diligence. She is a role model for all. Such persons should be recognized and encouraged. They represent the real spirit of common man/woman.
Its so inspiring to read such article which helps us reborn to new strength.Thanks Hindu for bringing up such article especially in midst of such corruption and hopelessness.
this is a nice story, every women should comeout and fight for self respect. thankyou for a great story.
A great woman Narouti.
Proud of her! And hope many other women can make similar success
stories.
Its like a real story which really inspire for the Women's movement. And now its require for the people that they 'open their eyes and aware of their rights". Thanks to "The Hindu".
Pleasure to hear such an exemplary article on a person with humility and talks about work to be done and not about done. Let this be an eye opener for so many other persons who are capable.
What an amazing, strong woman!really very encouraging for other women.
Thanks for 'The Hindu' and keep it up.
Ji Hind.
Our national leaders should take a lead from her leadership and courage to fight odds and try to control continuously deteriorating image
of Indian politics.
these type of exaamples must come out and publish. also, shown on the electronic media. in fact,there are no of Nauroti like women and Abdul majeed like patriot in our country. but unfortunately, our country laks in investigative journalism. so,we listen and read mostly the manipulated coverage with uncovered facts.what we understand is like tip of an iceberg.the job of the hindu team in this aspect is commendable.in a country like ours where presently every institution and individual seems to be a part of lootocracy and shortcut success players,these revelations give hope of being in a land of humanity.welldone nauroti and thanks to the team of the hindu.
Courage and determination to do something good fade everything including your caste and creed. Everyone of us has the potential to do service to our country provided 'the opportunity' and 'motivation'. She is great and inspiration to millions other's like her who simply avoids the odds in the name that upper caste peoples don't allow them to do the things. If one is rationally correct and honest with his/her duties - things changes definitely. Feeling proud to have such a dynamic personality in Indian village, wish more ppls like her will join the same league which she is leading. Hats off to Nauroti.
Thanks for writing this article stories like this helps in reinforcing the faith in india.
Its an inspiring article about a simple lady doing marvels beyond her capacity.May the spark from Nauroti ignite more minds who can help India develop to its full form.Commendable job.
First of all, I want to thank 'The Hindu' for publishing such a great and inspiring news. It is really a good news that women's empowerment in India is happening even in rural areas, that too in dalit family. This would really inspire women to come forward and struggle and achieve their rights. It is heartening that gradually and streadily Indian rural women are being educated, taking up the challenges and achieving what they aspire for and in a long term definately this is going to impact and uplift the coming generation because an educated women can educate the whole family and help in making a good society by inducing good moral, ethical and behavioral virtues in her children.
Such a story is really very encouraging for other women and person also.
Thanks for 'The Hindu' and keep it up.
One wishes that we have more such amazing persons
If only our politicians give their best for such projects and uplift
villages definitely India will achieve its goal economically and as
well as politically. Let us request our rulers to shed their trivial
animosity among themselves and learn to concentrate and give a thrust
for village upliftment and thereby achieving India vision.
well done lady
Despite being a Dalit, I appreciate the courage/committment and works done by Ms. Nauroti for fighting for getting the justice for others. She started her career as stone cutter, even though working hard for the day, less wages were paid. She raised the voice against the discrimination of the labourers and won the battle for the justice of the labourers. It is nice that she visited two foreign countries. She has also worked the development of region and in fact for the villagers in providing them the basic amenities. She started working as a Member of Gram Panchayat and later won as Sarpanch of the Village with handsome majority of votes. She was illetrate and never gone to school. she joined the classes and became literate. She also learnt how to work on computers and her determination made her computer literate. It is worthwhile to mention here that she started the classes for other illerate women and made them literate. Nauroti made this possible with the courage & honesty.
What an amazing, strong woman! I hope India would produce more such
proud daughters.
I salute Ms. Nauroti for her brave and unwavering stand. Thank you 'The Hindu' for
bringing this inspiring account to our notice. May Ms. Nauroti continue to be a
beacon of hope and courage to all weaker sections of our society.
what an incredible and inspiring story! thanks hindu and nauroti.
It's so refreshing to see this article in the middle of Coalgate, 2G, trinamool etc. Woman like her must come out and stand up for themselves. Subash chandra Bose's INDIA was all about education, women especially. India's real development lies with the rural women and men, population wise and economy wise.
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