Meet Neeru Yadav ‘Hockey Wali Surpanch’ Who Is Breaking Boundaries And Uplifting Women In Rajasthan

In an exclusive interview with Herzindagi the Sarpanch of Lambi Ahir Village, Rajasthan, Ms Neeru Yadav spoke about how she went from becoming a Sarpanch and then a sports patron which is a male-dominant arena. Scroll down to learn about her journey, challenges and her future vision about empowerment.

Journey From A Daughter-In-Law To Sarpanch

Neeru Yadav hails from an educated family in Narnual, Haryana. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in science and education as well. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD in Geography. Her father wanted her to become a police officer and her mother wanted her to become a collector. But she surpassed their dream and became a Surpanch which is a male-dominated arena. She is the perfect example of “Turning the mirror into a window”. After marrying Ashok Yadav, an engineer who shared her passion for women's empowerment, she decided to take up the Sarpanch election. Later on, she won and made history by becoming the first female Sarpanch of Lambi Ahir village in Rajasthan in 2020.

Journey From Sarpanch To Sports Patron

Neeru Yadav was always passionate about sports. She even played hockey during her school days. The passion for sports led her to motivate girls in her village for the same. She motivated parents and girls across her village and organised inter-city and inter-state hockey competitions which earned her the title of “Hockey Wali Sarpanch”.

Contributions Made For Women

Neeru Yadav took several steps to ensure women's empowerment in her village. She spent over seven lakhs from her savings to renovate the Government School in Lambi Ahir. She donated her salary and created a fund to provide dedicated playgrounds, hockey equipment, uniforms, and a hockey coach for the team.

Awards And Accolades

After becoming Sarpanch, Neeru Yadav’s passion for women's empowerment (women's day gift ideas) won her several awards and accolades. She received a “Shiksha Shree” from the Rajasthan government in recognition of her contributions to advancing women's education in Lambi Ahir village.

Challenges Faced By Neeru

The journey of becoming a female sarpanch and then a sports patron was not easy. Talking about the challenges, Neeru stated that awareness was the biggest challenge that she faced. People in her village were not educated enough and the stereotype that women are not for sports was deeply rooted in them. She made efforts and supported girls who wanted to play sports.

KBC And Interaction With Amitabh Bachchan

She also made headlines by appearing on "Kaun Banega Crorepati" (KBC) in Sep 2023. Her remarkable achievements caught the attention of the show's host, Amitabh Bachchan, who praised her efforts in making an optimistic impact on her community.

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Neeru On Women's Inclusivity And Future Vision

Despite women's (interesting facts about women's day) empowerment being one of the most talked about topics, women across the world are still facing inclusivity challenges. Neeru Yadav shared her opinions on women's inclusivity and stated that we women tend to underestimate ourselves. However, we possess more capabilities than what we think we perceive. She envisioned creating a transformed society that embraces gender equality, empowerment, and community development.

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