Kankuben works tirelessly as the sarpanch of Kukma panchayat, Gujarat. The hurdles she faced as a Dalit and as a woman have only made her more determined to make her panchayat a better place for all.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00But when you call a person or when you see a person from outside,
00:07you feel that he is a stranger.
00:11But when you call a person or when you see a person from outside,
00:16you feel that he is a stranger.
00:21But when they call a member or a politician from outside, but not us, then we feel that this is not right.
00:37When a new member comes, they tell a story of Satyanarayan.
01:06I went to the panchayat and sat next to the head of the panchayat.
01:13The pooja was about to begin.
01:16The priest there told me immediately that he would not let me perform the pooja with this sister.
01:26This is a Dalit community.
01:28If I perform the pooja with her, then my other followers will be angry with me.
01:36So, we were asked to leave the pooja.
01:39At that time, I also opposed it a lot.
01:42I was sad that God has sent me to this world.
01:51I have what you have.
01:54Nature does not discriminate against us.
01:59So, how can these people discriminate against us?
02:01Music
02:29There are very few students in our community.
02:32Especially girls.
02:35I was very adamant and cried a lot to study.
02:38But I couldn't do it.
02:40Music
02:45I had a thought that I would only make him the head of the panchayat, but I would do the work.
02:53Sometimes, we create an atmosphere that the head of the panchayat is very bad.
02:57He doesn't listen to anyone.
02:59He does what he wants.
03:01I did the work that I hadn't done in 15-20 years.
03:05I used to do a good job.
03:07I was also afraid that if this sister does such a good job, then I won't have any value.
03:14Music
03:19When you go to fill water, don't touch each other's utensils.
03:26Don't touch the tap that fills the water.
03:30Don't touch it.
03:32There were many such problems of many castes.
03:35We don't go to each other's houses.
03:40Even if someone touches us by mistake, they go to their house and clean themselves with a drop of water.
03:49Music
04:00I am not afraid.
04:03I don't feel afraid.
04:05When do I feel afraid?
04:06When we do wrong things.