From silence to the sabha: MP woman leads others after breaking barriers

Dhar: On a warm afternoon in Balipur village, women gather inside the Panchayat building, some still with soil on their dupattas from the fields. At the center, Geeta Devda speaks about girls’ education, equal household work for sons, and women’s right to be heard.

Years ago, such a scene would have been unlikely. Geeta was once confined to her home. Today she helps other women enter public spaces, speak at Gram Sabha meetings, and take part in decisions affecting their community.

Geeta lives in Balipur, Dhar district, with her son and daughter. Her path to leadership began with early hardship.“I got married when I was 16 years old. I was studying in my Class 10,” she says.

The shift from classroom to village life was abrupt. “When I came to my in-laws’ house, I was having a hard time. I didn’t know how to live in the village. I had to face a lot of problems,” she recalls.

She was expected to manage household work and reach the fields on time for laborers, despite never having worked in agriculture before. “I didn’t know how to work in the fields because I had never done it before.”Financial strain and strict restrictions on movement added to the pressure. Over time, staying silent became routine.

That silence began to break through shared struggles with other women in the village. Collective meetings and growing trust created space for her to find her voice. Now Geeta leads those same circles, encouraging women to attend panchayat sessions and advocate for their needs.

Her journey reflects a broader shift in Balipur, where women who once stayed out of public decision-making are now shaping it. Local officials say participation by women in Gram Sabha meetings has risen as more women like Geeta take active roles.

“Her journey from restriction to leadership is not just personal,” said a local community worker. “It has unfolded alongside other women, shaped by shared struggles and collective courage.”