The story of Priyatama is one of resilience, dignity, and unwavering commitment to both her personal life and community. She is a single mother from Mahal Village, a small settlement in the rural coastal belt of Odisha, where she skillfully balances her professional and social commitments. When I met her, I saw in her a reflection of the struggles that many women face—navigating through life’s hardships while holding onto their aspirations.
Mahal Village, situated in Erasama Block of Jagatsinghpur District, consists of 242 households and a population of around 1200 people. The community faces a severe water crisis, which often leads to disputes among villagers. The scarcity of clean drinking water has long been a challenge, making life difficult for the residents. Against this backdrop, women like Priyatama emerge as strong pillars, working tirelessly to create a difference.
I first met Priyatama at a Women’s Day event that I organized in the village to engage with local women and understand their challenges. From the very beginning, she stood out—a woman with a commanding yet warm presence, passionate about her responsibilities and the empowerment of other women.
A Woman of Strength and Responsibility
Priyatama is a widow and the mother of a single girl child. She lives with her paternal family, having moved to Mahal Village after her father was displaced from a neighboring village due to family disputes. Despite the odds, she has been an active member of a Self-Help Group (SHG) for over a decade. Today, she holds the position of Community Resource Person (CRP) for the SHG, guiding and mentoring more than 210 women who are part of the initiative.
Her leadership extends beyond the SHG as she actively engages with various government schemes, including the Subhadra Scheme by the Government of Odisha, which helps sustain her family. She is not just a beneficiary of these schemes but an advocate, ensuring other women access the resources available to them. Her commitment to encouraging women’s participation in community activities has made her a cornerstone of local development efforts.
A Day in Priyatama’s Life
August was a month of intense work for me as I focused on the technical aspects of water governance and management. My tasks included data collection, groundwater sampling, and preparing proposals to submit the village’s water demand to stakeholders before our fourth training session. One crucial piece of data I needed was the exact population size of the village.
I tried reaching out to Priyatama for two consecutive days, but she was unresponsive due to her demanding schedule. After some time, she finally asked me to visit her. I planned to arrive at 3 PM, assuming she would have finished her household chores by then.
Arriving at 2:57 PM, I called her to confirm my arrival. To my surprise, she didn’t answer. Disheartened, I thought the meeting might have been canceled at the last minute. But within moments, I received a call from an unknown number. The voice on the other end said, “Didi, meeting chalichi, mo number re call karantu nahi, mu ghare achi, asa.” (Translation: Didi, I’m in a meeting. Please don’t call me on my number. I’m at home, please come.)
The Tireless Commitment of a Community Leader
I quickly made my way to her house, momentarily forgetting the landmarks. But there she was, standing by the roadside, holding a small keypad phone in one hand and a smartphone in the other, deeply engaged in the meeting. As soon as she saw me, she rushed inside. Her dedication to both her professional duties and our meeting was evident.
Inside her unpaved settlement, she was already arranging chairs, ensuring I had a comfortable place to sit. The meeting was still ongoing. I asked her if she was too busy to talk and whether we should reschedule, but she reassured me, saying, “You are also working. My duty is to help you.”
She spoke to me like a mother, venting about the overwhelming workload she was handling. She confided in me about the technical difficulties they were facing while enrolling for the Subhadra Scheme. The burden of responsibilities was so heavy that she considered stepping down from a few roles. Yet, she remained steadfast, knowing that the work she did was not just for herself but for the betterment of many others.
Mutual Support and an Unwavering Spirit
Despite her exhaustion, she turned her focus to my request. I explained to her why the population data was crucial for advancing our water governance project. She had recently conducted a household survey, so she helped me calculate the correct numbers. Out of curiosity, I intentionally overestimated the count to see if she would notice. As expected, she promptly corrected me, which reaffirmed my trust in her meticulous approach.
As we wrapped up our discussion, her online meeting also ended. Since she had earlier mentioned the glitch in their scheme enrollment process, I helped her resolve the issue. In return, she helped me get my data right. To my delight, she then prepared a refreshing glass of lemonade for me and handed me four fresh lemons from her garden as a parting gift.
Her sister-in-law playfully remarked, “Dae, ama paen kebe banae dea.” (Translation: Di, you never make lemonade for us with so much love being put in.)
A Lesson in Strength and Leadership
Priyatama is not just a name; she is a symbol of resilience, determination, and leadership. In a rural society where women often struggle to balance responsibilities, she stands tall, proving that commitment to one’s community and personal aspirations can go hand in hand.
What makes her truly remarkable is her ability to uplift others despite facing numerous personal hardships. As a single mother and a woman leading a community, she does not allow adversity to break her spirit. Instead, she channels her challenges into meaningful action, advocating for other women and ensuring they, too, have access to resources and opportunities.
Her story leaves me with lingering questions—how can we support individuals like her? How can we make their lives easier so they can continue their impactful work? The answer lies in collective action, in recognizing the unsung heroes of our communities, and in creating an environment where their efforts are acknowledged and strengthened.
Final Thoughts: A Role Model for Many
As I left her home that day, holding the lemons she had given me, I couldn’t help but draw a metaphorical connection. Just like those lemons, life in rural India often throws challenges that are bitter and tough. But women like Priyatama have the incredible ability to turn those challenges into something refreshing, something valuable.
Her story is not just an individual narrative but a reflection of the strength of countless rural women who fight against odds every single day. Priyatama teaches us that leadership is not about titles or positions; it is about dedication, selflessness, and the ability to uplift those around you.
Her unwavering conviction and perseverance remind me why I do what I do. Her journey is an inspiration, a lesson, and a call to action for all of us—to recognize, support, and empower women like her, ensuring their efforts are not just appreciated but amplified.
In the end, women like Priyatama are the backbone of grassroots development. They deserve not just recognition but robust systems of support, so they can continue being the changemakers our communities so desperately need.
She is not just a woman of Mahal; she is an example to look up to.
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