As the world celebrates International Rural Women’s Day, we draw inspiration from the transformative power of compassion, empowerment, and the unwavering commitment of individuals like Neeti Goel to make a profound difference in the lives of women living in the rural heartlands of India. Shabana, found herself in dire straits, struggling to provide for her five children while trying to escape an abusive marriage. Her story is an example that efforts of people like Neeti Goel make a difference in the lives of those in need.
In the heart of a small village in Madhya Pradesh, a remarkable story of resilience and transformation unfolded. Shabana’s life was marred by hardship. She came from a destitute family and was trapped in a tumultuous and abusive marriage. Her husband’s violence forced her to take a drastic step – she decided to leave her home. With little more than her determination and a will to survive, she resorted to riding a rented rickshaw as a means of livelihood. Despite her efforts, Shabana found it challenging to make ends meet, and her children often went to bed hungry.
Faced with despair and exhaustion, Shabana contemplated a tragic decision – to end her own life, believing that it might be the only way to escape her seemingly insurmountable struggles. However, fate had other plans, and a compassionate woman from her village stepped in just in time and introduced Shabana to Neeti Goel, an entrepreneur with a heart of gold. Neeti, not content with her own success, had initiated ‘Nari Nitti,’ a project aimed at empowering rural women who, like Shabana, faced tremendous hardships.
The support provided by Neeti Goel through ‘Nari Nitti’ extended far beyond the gift of an e-rickshaw. It gave Shabana and her children a renewed sense of hope and purpose.
Shabana’s story is not an isolated one. Neeti Goel’s ‘Nari Nitti’ project has reached out to numerous women facing similar challenges in rural India. By providing them with opportunities for self-sufficiency, education, and empowerment, it has made a profound impact.
While on her mission, to empower more women, Neeti discovered a Naxalite village near Mirzapur where girl children were denied the opportunity to attend school due to the remote forested location. Neeti’s team provided 250 bicycles, enabling these girls to access education. Neeti Goel also reached out to rural women who were victims of domestic violence and torture in remote villages of Uttar Pradesh. She provided training in self-defense and basic education, creating a formidable army of 25 women in each village to protect and support one another. This initiative grew rapidly, spreading to other villages and involving thousands of women. Employment opportunities were also created for them through sewing centers, vegetable vending carts, and the production of various products such as Diya and papad.
Neeti Goel’s ‘Nari Nitti’ stands as a testament to the enduring power of human compassion and the belief that even the smallest acts of kindness can create a brighter, more inclusive future for all.
