Akshatha, from Bagewadi is a young girl who was brought up in a rural area, shy with restrictions from her family members. She was surrounded by blind beliefs and practices and was afraid of being forced into an early marriage. Akshatha who is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in the arts. Her family members being strict and conservative towards their daughter, her education and freedom were curtailed severely in accordance with the wishes of her parents and the local culture. Akshatha is actually an outlier as she is still pursuing her education when most of her peers have been married at an early age. Her life took a positive turn when she became involved with Mahashakthi Mahila Okuta – Basavana Bagewadi through her mother’s affiliation with the women’s sangha and federation. Akshatha was encouraged to attend various programs and trainings organized by Best Practices Foundation for the federation members.
The executive committee members even provided her with pocket money as travel allowance to support her participation. Motivated to educate herself, Akshatha actively participated in workshops and meetings on topics such as gender-based violence, laws and rights, leadership, intergenerational dialogues, and feminist digital literacy. These local and district-wide (including Bangalore) events broadened her horizons, expanded her networks, and provided valuable exposure. In a short period, she emerged as a leader not only for the Kishori sanghas but also for the villagers and her community. She even served as the youngest executive committee member in the federation and continues to actively participate. Additionally, the federation’s initiatives, such as kitchen gardens, have led to increased vegetable consumption and improved nutrition in the community.