Rising Confidence and Leadership – The Journey of Rina Kumari Ram
Rina Kumari Ram, a resident of Brindaban Municipality Ward No. 2, Dhangadhi Tole, lives in a large joint family of eleven members from Dalit community. Her household includes two brothers in law and their wives, her parents in law, a 70-year-old grandmother, and her three-year-old son. With her husband currently working abroad to support the family financially, Rina carries significant responsibilities at home, managing household duties while caring for her child and other family members.
The family owns only a small house and does not have significant land or other assets. Despite these limitations, Rina has always been determined to improve her family’s future and provide better opportunities for her child.
She places special importance on her son’s education. Her son studies in Chandrapur, which requires regular travel between the village and the town. To support his schooling and ease his daily commute, Rina purchased a bicycle so he could travel between the village and Chandrapur. This small yet meaningful effort reflects her strong commitment to her child’s education.
A significant turning point in Rina’s life came when she joined the Naari Jagaran Women’s Empowerment Center. Through the center, she had the opportunity to interact with other women, share experiences, and participate in activities focused on confidence building, awareness, and leadership.
Gradually, the center helped her recognize her own potential and encouraged her to step beyond traditional expectations.
“Earlier, I used to think that women like me could only stay inside the house and manage family responsibilities. But after joining the Women’s Empowerment Center, I realized that we can also step forward and do something meaningful for ourselves and our community,”
With increased confidence and encouragement from the center, Rina decided to take a bold step and applied for the position of temporary election police officer. For a woman living in a traditional rural community and managing responsibilities within a joint family, applying for such a role required determination and courage.
Her selection as a temporary election police officer became a proud milestone in her life and brought recognition within her community.
“When I got selected, I felt proud of myself. It gave me confidence that if we try, we can achieve something even with limited opportunities.”
Today, Rina Kumari Ram’s journey stands as a powerful example of how women can grow in confidence and leadership when provided with the right platform and support. Her story demonstrates that even small opportunities such as participating in a women’s empowerment center can create meaningful change in the lives of rural women and inspire others in their communities.
