Talo Devi, the outspoken leader of Surajmukhi SHG in Lalgadi, has become a respected voice for women’s change in her village. From climate action to health and sanitation, she leads meetings where she informs and inspires others with the latest community updates. Despite living below the poverty line and raising three daughters on a tight budget, Talo manages her household with discipline and vision. Her approach is marked by careful fund management and a strong commitment to her children’s well-being, even when it means challenging her husband’s views.
Her resolve was tested when her eldest daughter wished to pursue +2 education in Latehar. Family members worried about both daily travel and college expenses, urging the girl to remain at home. Talo, however, argued passionately for her daughter’s right to education: “We all see, being uneducated, how are we suffering? Why not give our child the chance to build her own career instead of confining her to domestic work?”
Talo’s courageous stand, shaped by regular gender justice and child rights orientations through NGO outreach, changed her family’s mindset. Her daughter was able to continue her studies, marking a clear shift in household attitudes toward girls’ education and opportunity.
This story is emblematic of positive change sparked by determined women leaders in rural India. Women like Talo Devi, equipped with knowledge and conviction, are paving the way for justice, gender equality, and brighter futures for their children. Justice for the girl child indeed proves to be justice for gender, as communities witness empowered women advocating and achieving transformative results at home and beyond.