This woman is ‘driving’ change in her community

Asha, a community participant, has taken our tagline  ‘driving progress’ quite literally and we couldn’t be more in awe!

Asha is from Hukunda village, Ramanagara district, and is a 25-year-old woman who completed 10th grade. She lives with her husband Rajesh, their three children, two nieces, two nephews, and her parents. Despite the challenges of supporting a family of ten on a limited income, Asha was determined to create a better life for them. Rajesh works at a petrol station and does construction work to make ends meet. 

Asha started the Spoorthi Fellowship in October 2023.  By December 2023, Asha had completed the third module, which focused on the concept of a model village. This module inspired her deeply, “I want to take a step towards creating a model village,” Asha said. 'My first step in creating a model village is taking up the Swachh Bharat Mission and bringing it to my surrounding villages.' 

Motivated by this vision, in March 2024, she took on a significant role as a driver for the Ramanagara City  Municipal Council garbage vehicle. Her job involves driving the vehicle to 11 surrounding villages to collect and dispose of garbage, earning Rs.7,000 per month. Despite societal stigma surrounding this job, she accepted it wholeheartedly.  She enrolled in a driving course at Canara Bank Institute, known for vocational training programs, after securing the job.

Asha's commitment to her community was evident in her daily routine. She balanced her household chores, with her job, which required her to drive from 10 AM to 5 PM. Despite the long hours, she returned home each day with a sense of satisfaction, knowing that she was contributing to the cleanliness and well-being of her community. 'I am proud to be one of the many women in my Panchayat who have taken up a job as a woman driver in disposing of garbage,' Asha said. Asha's work involves more than just driving the garbage vehicle. She actively educates the villagers about the importance of segregating waste and ensuring proper disposal. 

Rajesh's unwavering support played a crucial role in Asha's journey. 'He supports me in every way possible,' Asha said. 'He is very proud that I am setting an example of keeping our surroundings clean and the environment healthy .' With the additional income from her job, Asha's household transitioned from a single-income to a dual-income family. This financial stability allowed them to move forward with their plans to build a new house and save Rs. 500 per month in a Post Office scheme for their children's education. 'Now, I am more confident of building the house a little sooner than planned,' Asha said. 'I also aim to save further to educate my children.' 

Asha lives up to the meaning of her name - hope. She inspires everyone by demonstrating that a better world awaits us when we make an effort to conserve our environment.