“Though I got married at the early age of 13, I was fortunate enough to get a kind-hearted and progressive husband who always worked for the village development. He was into the horseshoe-making profession. After a few years, my husband was elected as the sarpanch from our village after contesting as a candidate.

During his tenure, he made the best efforts to develop a backward village like ours in the Bhongir district. While the majority of his initiatives were successful and progressive, his untimely death due to a freak accident was a shocker for every one of us in the village. We could not get through it for over three months. That’s when I decided to continue his good work. I contested in the sarpanch elections and got re-elected with a huge margin.

I never thought that a small-town woman like me, from a socially and economically backward village, would get an opportunity to become the Sarpanch but I took it as a responsibility to change the lives of villages. I looked after several rural development initiatives like drinking water, groundwater management, and sanitation among many others. I am indeed proud of the fact that I was able to bring the bus stand to my village. We also worked on the construction of public toilets, houses for those below the poverty line, and many more.
I made sure every child in the village attains a quality education in the government schools.

Looking back, I feel content and grateful for the opportunity to serve my purpose. I am now back to my roots, as a farmer, who strives to make ends meet in my village. My only wish in life now is to see both my sons get married and contribute to the progress of our village and society.”