"Hockey Wali Sarpanch," Neeru Yadav, Boosts Women's Participation In Sports

Societal biases and inequities against women have been documented in many spheres of life. Women have always been excluded from governmental decision-making, religious rites, and other social activities. Sports events have been impacted by this social bias as well. Except for a few exceptions, women had traditionally only been permitted to watch major sporting events. But this scenario has changed in the current time.

Many organisations are now promoting the participation of women in sports. The International Swimming Federation (ISF), which decided to allow women to compete in swimming at the 1912 Games, was the first major sports federation to advocate the participation and inclusion of women in sporting events. The number of female athletes competing in sporting events has increased quickly and steadily during the past 50 years.

One of the best things to witness is a woman supporting another woman. Today we will look at how a female Sarpanch, with her arduous efforts, changed the picture of her rural locality by promoting women's participation in sports like hockey. Neeru Yadav, known as "Hockey Wali Sarpanch," of Gram Panchayat Laambi Ahir, Tehsil Buhana, is the Sarpanch of District Jhunjhunu. Sarpanch Neeru Yadav has brought some major changes to her area in the name of rural development. Focusing on the importance of sports, Neeru Yadav moves one step further by including women in sports. She took some major steps that encouraged the girls to participate in hockey. To ensure this participation, she used her two years of honoraria to distribute hockey kits among the girls of the village. This team, sponsored by Neeru Yadav, was taken great care of. Neeru Yadav again proves to be an efficient leader by appointing a coach to train and guide the team of girls.

On the playground of Pacheri Kalan, Neeru Yadav worked restlessly to assure that all the facilities were provided to the team at the right time. All of these efforts did not go in vain. This girls' hockey team from Lambi Ahir Panchayat won the trophy for ranking first at the block level. This team did not just stop here. It further went to participate at the district level. This success also earned Neeru Yadav the title of "Hockey Wali Sarpanch."

Neeru Yadav is also the proprietor of some of the major developmental organizations. Neeru Yadav is the first woman Sarpanch of India to show the seeds of FPO (Farmers Production Organization) in the name of "Sachhi Saheli Mahila Agro." She established a "Farmer Producer Organization" with the help of SIIRD (the Society of Indian Institute of Rural Development) in collaboration with NABARD. Neeru Yadav also took up the role of chairman of the board of directors of this company.

Talking about her vision, she says, "We aim to provide multiple channels of market access, economies of scale, a reduction in transaction costs, and a reduction in middlemen for our farmers. We focus on higher income, empowerment, and capacity building for our farmers. Around 50 farmers of the company have started getting profit within just 2 months of setting up the FPO."Neeru Yadav also brings to light the importance of the Prime Minister's "Kaushal Vikas Yojana," which inspired the youth to get employed in large numbers by working on their skills.

Among all these developmental initiatives taken by Neeru Yadav, her initiative of boosting women's participation in sports has left a lasting effect on people's minds. It has been discovered that in addition to gaining leadership skills and increasing their physical health, women who participate in sports and engage in athletic events are more likely to overcome biases and feel empowered. Neeru Yadav has already taken our nation a step ahead in both economic and social development.