Leading Change From The Self

At 29, most women are either married, or peaking at the zenith of their career. On the other hand, Shama Khan is 29 and the Pradhan of Chohtan Panchayat Samiti in Barmer.

Married at the age of 19, and becoming a mother of a 3-year old didn’t stop her from entering grassroot politics as a member of the Chotan Panchayat Samiti. She was elected Pradhan in 2010.

It is interesting to note that she wasn’t initially interested in politics at all. However, she noticed that the male dominated society dissuades women from coming forth and voicing their concerns. To change this, she decided to become part of the system that she is attempting to change.

One of the first problems she immediately set to address was the lack of encouragement for people to send their children to school, especially their daughters. She was very aggressive about this to the extent that within 2 years, the number of girls attending school went up from 550 to 6550.

She also encouraged women representatives to attend panchayat meetings instead of sending their husbands. She is known to be the lady who pretty much transformed the way the Chota Panchayat Samat functions, churning positive story after another.

To quote her, “I have powers and I can deliver.”

She is an inspiring example for all women – being involved is the only way to tackle a problem, not necessarily by being the one who solves it but by using the right to vote as a means to be heard.