In the heart of Bihar, democracy is not a distant idea. It is lived daily by women whose names will never make headlines—women who vote, organise and survive with quiet urgency. Across caste, religion and location, their lives reveal what participation looks like—whether the state is absent or present—and even when the most fragile thing they hold is hope.
For these women, voting is not allegiance. It’s leverage—shaped in community kitchens, panchayat meetings, and migrant households where survival itself is political.
Despite such challenges, there is a slow but significant shift that is underway—women have entered the political sphere in Bihar.
In Darbhanga, Reshma Ara, who was elected mukhiya at age 30 four years ago, is a visible figure of authority. Her presence disrupts stereotypes—a veiled woman asserting accountability, demanding updates, and standing firm.
Rashmi Chaudhary sits at the front of every panchayat meeting as the sarpanch of Nadi village. With no party backing and limited funds, she pushes ahead—focusing on roads, water, and education.
Watch the full video to know more.
Reporter: Pragya Singh Camera: Romana Manpreet Editor: Sudhanshu
00:00Most of the people here have lived in the liver class.
00:03Because their husbands live outside.
00:05So they want to come to the rest of their lives.
00:21In that year, we don't want to get a job in that year.
00:25If we were to go to the Mandigah,
00:28If people get a good job, they will work here.
00:31If they get a job, they will do it.
00:34People are sitting there, they will do it.
00:36If they don't get a job, they will sit there.
00:38As we see here, they took the food to drink.
00:43They didn't do anything.
00:44It was difficult for food to drink.
00:47There was no water to drink, so people took the food to drink.
00:51If they didn't drink, they went out with the baby.
00:58How did they get a payment for their work?
01:03I have written a card that they need to pay for 15 days.
01:08They have not been able to pay for 15 days.
01:11When they do the work, they get the work.
01:18They have been able to get the work for 7 days.
01:22They have been able to get the work for 15 days.
01:24But the money is too late.
01:27They have been able to get the work for 100 days.
01:31They don't get the work for God.
01:33If they have been able to get the work,
01:34then they will be able to get the work in the water.
01:38They have been able to get the work for the people.
01:43They have been able to get the work for their families.
01:45They have been able to get the work for their families.
01:47But the government is not able to get the work for their families.
01:53They have been able to get the work for their families.
01:55They have been able to get the work for their families.
01:59They want to get the work for their families.
02:02But they don't have the support for their families.
02:04So I want to say,
02:07I want to say that they have been able to get the work for their families.
02:12So that they can prove that they are not less than anyone.
02:16I want to say that they have been able to get the work for their families.
02:20The most important thing is our money.
02:23The government gives money is very late.
02:26They cannot give the budget at the time,
02:28when the public is working on the public.
02:32Our town is a little bit lower.
02:36The party is good for me.
02:40The party is very supportive of the people.
02:42Nitish Kumar has been focused on the roads,
02:45and on the public.
02:47But the people have not been able to get the work for their families.
02:48That's why I have the opportunity to give you the responsibility of Nityish Kumar that you have to take care of your children and take care of your children.
