Niru Yadav, an internationally recognized village leader and elder from Rajasthan, presented local innovations in India at the BRICS Women's Ministerial Meeting.
In the village of Lambi Ahir, early marriage was common, and sports were virtually impossible. When Niru became the first female village elder in 2020, she decided to change opportunities for these girls.
She convinced hesitant parents and began funding the purchase of sports equipment, hiring a coach, and organizing transportation for hockey training using her own salary. Currently, some of these girls have won medals at the district level.
Furthermore, Niru conducted home visits and enrolled girls in professional skills training under government programs, thereby opening paths for their education and employment.
She also supported farmers by establishing a Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) in her Panchayat Samiti, which helped them gain access to more profitable markets and income opportunities.
Subsequently, she addressed the waste problem. Rural weddings often resulted in a large amount of single-use plastic. In 2022, she launched a 'Utensil Bank' through her NGO, Aditri Foundation.
Residents could rent steel utensils for weddings and festivals free of charge or for a small fee, which contributed to reducing plastic waste and promoting a culture of reuse. This initiative grew from a few hundred items to over 8000. Its success prompted the Rajasthan government to adopt this model and implement Utensil Banks in villages across the state.
