Batula Devi, Village Sarpanch, Kekar Rahin

This short video follows the life of Batula Devi, the sarpanch of Kekar Rahin village in eastern Uttar Pradesh. As sarpanch, Batula Devi now helps ensure children, especially girls, are sent to school with the support of the local education committee. She, like many other recently elected women representatives in her area, received training in political processes and local governance as part of the UNDP Swaayam project, which aims to empower 50,000 women – socially, economically and politically in 500 villages in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

About the Project

In 2009, UNDP in partnership with the IKEA Foundation launched a five-year project Swaayam which focuses on the social, economic and political empowerment of women in three districts of Jaunpur, Mirzapur and Sant Ravidas Nagar in eastern Uttar Pradesh. The project covers 500 villages to reach 50,000 women. Through SHGs of women, women are setting up enterprises in dairy and craft industries, playing a more vocal role in local governance and addressing social issues in their villages.