Hi, I’m Maheshweta.

After completing my post graduation, I knew I wanted to work at the grassroots and understand realities more closely. Around that time, I got to know about Transform Rural India (TRI) and decided to explore it.

When I received my offer letter for Bastar district in Chhattisgarh, I was unsure. Moving there came with its own doubts. My family and friends suggested I go for a few days and then decide. But once I reached, something shifted. The forests, waterfalls and tribal culture drew me in. Despite being close to my home state Jharkhand, Bastar felt very different, and I found myself wanting to understand it more.

I stayed. It has now been 2 years and 4 months.

Life here is far from the usual rush. There is a stillness you can actually feel, and a sense of peace that contrasts with how the region is often seen. Over time, this place has become a space where I have learned as much as I have worked.

My role involves working closely with government institutions on liaisoning and convergence, while also engaging with community institutions. This has given me a view of both sides, helping me understand challenges and possibilities together, and find ways to make things work better on the ground.

No two days are the same. Some are planned, others unfold on the go. There are meetings, training, field visits, and sometimes last-minute travel or engagements. It can be demanding, especially when things come up at short notice, but it has pushed me to manage time better, think on my feet, and respond with conviction.

Some moments stay with you.

In my early days, we began working on Integrated Natural Resource Management plans using GIS-based village maps that showed land details and helped communities plan resources better for a women-led water security model. During one such field visit, after collecting GIS coordinates for a family, we were about to leave when an elderly man ran towards us. He held out a crumpled hundred-rupee note from his tightly closed fist, his eyes filled with tears. He was happy that he would finally have a farm pond and a more secure future. 

I gently refused and told him this was his right, and that he did not need to give money. He looked surprised, almost unsure, and then quietly stepped back and waved as we left. That moment has stayed with me. With further organizational efforts this initiative further transformed into policy level in Chhattisgarh as “Mor Gaon, Mor Paani”.

Another story that continues to inspire me is of Tulsi Bharti. She started as an active member in community institutions and later filed her nomination for Sarpanch. She was threatened and asked to withdraw, but she stood her ground and said that even if she didn’t get a single vote, she would still contest.

She used her own savings and income from selling paddy to run her campaign. She went on to win, and today she works independently, breaking the long-standing norm of the “Sarpanch Pati”. She is a leader in true spirit and not a mere proxy, and continues to inspire many other women around her to believe in themselves. Her journey reflects the confidence and strength built over time through continuous engagement and learning.

Stories like these have become a part of my own journey. They remind me why this work matters, and give me the courage and conviction to keep going.

Through #HerWork, I share these experiences as they unfold. Grounded in people, shaped by trust, and carried forward one step at a time.