Child marriage, teen motherhood, poverty, and disability could have crushed anyone. But in Rajasthan’s Churu district, Pana Devi from Aspalsar village turned these into stepping stones for empowerment. Now a graduate and entrepreneur, she’s not just self-reliant—she’s uplifting an entire community of women.
Born into hardship, Pana quit school after fifth grade. Wed at 12, she joined her in-laws at 14 and birthed two sons by 16. Economic woes forced her into NREGA manual labor, digging and carrying loads despite physical challenges. Dreams of lighter, literate work haunted her.
Her father’s post-marital push got her to eighth grade, eyeing Anganwadi work, but selection eluded her. Rajivika changed everything in 2016. As a group sahayika, she gained skills, a stipend, and loans for sewing. Simultaneously, she cracked open school 10th (after one setback), 12th, and bachelor’s degrees.
Elevated to NREGA mate, her leadership blossomed. Inspired, she ventured into sanitary napkin manufacturing. Initial manual efforts yielded meager income for long hours. Advocacy by rural development officer Durga Dhaka secured a high-capacity machine from Collector Siddharth Siyaag’s funds. Today, her unit employs 20 women productively.
Education advocacy is her passion too. Pana rallied 40 women to study, aiding 13 with exam registrations. She’s trained hundreds in Rajivika across districts, fostering self-employment. Meeting President Droupadi Murmu crowned her journey.
Pana reflects: ‘Fear of struggle is gone; it now drives me.’ Her story, endorsed by officials Priyanka Chaudhary and Manju, exemplifies that perseverance conquers all. From personal survival to communal upliftment, Pana Devi embodies rural India’s resilient spirit, creating jobs and shattering illiteracy chains.