Laxmi Suresh Khanna

Laxmi Suresh Khanna is a trailblazing community member, serving as an Elected Panch in Nandgaon Village, Rajpur Block, Barwani District, MP. In a male-dominant sector of politics, Laxmi, along with 10 other determined female members, established a powerful political identity in her Gram Panchayat (GP). Breaking barriers and defying traditional norms, they achieved an extraordinary dream, proving that ordinary women possess great strength.

Despite her significant achievements, Laxmi faced numerous challenges in her role. The traditional perception of a male leader leading politically posed hurdles, even though the community elected her for the position. While they have gained acceptance through votes, establishing a GP mainly run by women remains a work in progress. Engaging all women voters in Gram Panchayat work also poses a challenge.

To overcome these challenges, Laxmi became a governance change vector. Her competence in GP and standing committee work, as well as her proficiency in the GPDP process and tracking, have been instrumental in driving positive change. She mobilized women for Gram Sabha meetings and educated them about their rights, ensuring their active participation in the GP process. Regular GP meetings and transparency became the norm with women actively involved.

Laxmi's vision in her present role is to continue empowering her community and promoting education for girls. She played a pivotal role in forming the standing committee and now shares her governance knowledge with other members. They are advocating for schools up to the 12th grade in their village, particularly for girls to have access to continued education. Additionally, she aims to establish learning centers for other school dropouts, ensuring education opportunities for all.

Furthermore, Laxmi aspires to provide essential health facilities to the villagers through a sub-center, contributing to the overall welfare of the community. In alignment with the current year's GPDP, she remains committed to working towards the betterment of her community, leaving a lasting impact on the lives of those she serves.