In the Sajjangarh block of Banswara district, located at the southern tip of Rajasthan, lies a small village called Ghoti ki Todi. Kamladevi Bhagora, a 43-year-old woman from this village, has done something that has become an exemplary inspirationnot just for her own village, but for women across many other villages. A mother of three sons, coming from a farming family, this ordinary woman fought for her land, her rights, and her dreams with remarkable courageand she won.
Kamladevi’s childhood was spent in the fields. She learned the art of sowing seeds, growing crops, watering, and harvesting from the very courtyard of her home. From a young age, her hands had a deep bond with the soil. But one thing she had always observed since childhood was this: in the fields, her mother worked just as hard as her father, yet the right to make decisions always remained in the hands of men. What to plant, how much to sell, where to spend moneyall of this was decided according to the wishes of men. Women only contributed their labor; they had no say in decisions. This social imbalance stayed in young Kamladevi’s eyes like an unanswered question. She did not know that one day she would strive to find the answer to that very question.
Kamladevi’s life began to take a new turn the day she joined Vaagdharaan organization working in the tribal regions of Rajasthan for women’s empowerment, organic agriculture, and community rights. By associating with Vaagdhara, Kamladevi formed Mahila Saksham Samuh (Women’s Empowerment Groups) and Gram Swaraj Samuh (Village Self-Governance Groups) across seven neighboring villages. The Mahila Saksham Samuh brought together 140 women from these seven villages, while the Gram Swaraj Samuh included 140 membersboth women and men. The goal of these groups was to increase the participation of villagersespecially womenin gram panchayat affairs. Through these groups, Kamladevi began working on issues such as women’s rights, land ownership, and sustainable agriculture. She became an inspiring leader for the women of these seven villages.
Vaagdhara provided her with in-depth training on land rights, organic sustainable farming, and women’s participation in the Panchayati Raj system. Through capacity-building workshops and field visits, her understanding and vision expanded considerably. She came to understand that until women farmers become aware of their own rights, meaningful change is not possible.
When Kamladevi began talking to the women farmers in her villages about sustainable organic agriculture, she encountered a deep challenge. The women would listen, they would understand — but they would not take the step forward. When Kamladevi thought deeply about it, she realized that these women had no ‘role model’ — no one they could look up to, no one they could identify with. Moving from chemical farming to organic farming was a bold decision, and without a living example, it was difficult for them to make that choice.
Kamladevi recognized the root of this problem and resolved: ‘If I want to show others the way, I must walk it myself first.’ Just as a true leader walks ahead to show the path, she decided to become that example herself.
Kamladevi farms approximately four bighas of land with her family. She first held deep discussions with her family about the matter and shared the long-term benefits of sustainable organic farming. She began practicing sustainable organic agriculture on 3 bighas of land. For this, she did not wait for expensive resourcesinstead, she started with what she had at home. Her household had two cows and eight goats. She prepared organic compost from cow dung. She used traditional bio-pesticides like Dashparni and Neemastra, which are completely natural. In this way, she completely eliminated her dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Her main crops were indigenous varieties of maize and tur (pigeon pea). Alongside these, she also grew green vegetables for household useincluding brinjal, tomatoes, bottle gourd, okra, and onions. Kamladevi always paid special attention to local seed varieties. She would save seeds from her previous harvest to use in the next season. This not only reduced costs but also preserved the purity of the seeds and their adaptability to local weather. This harvest was not just for herit was a living example for the entire village. Women who had earlier listened but not stepped forward could now see with their own eyes that organic farming truly works. Seeing lower costs in the field and superior taste in the produce, the trust of other village women began to awaken.
Kamladevi did not limit her efforts to farming alone. The 8 goats in her household became another source of economic strength. Between 2021 and 2025, she earned a total of ₹1, 02,500 in livelihood income by selling goats. This was a significant achievement, proving that by combining small-scale animal husbandry with farming, a family’s financial condition can be greatly improved. Cow dung became compost; goats became a source of incomethis integrated farming system brought stability to her life.
Through the Mahila Saksham Samuh and Gram Swaraj Samuh, Kamladevi encouraged women to participate in panchayat meetings. She informed women of their legal rights — the right to a share in land, the right to vote in the panchayat, and the right to benefit from government schemes. Gradually, women’s voices began to grow stronger in these villages. They started attending panchayat meetings and speaking up for themselves.
Source: Global Research
