Ajita’s journey began with a deep curiosity about education and a growing awareness of the realities faced by women in her community. While still in school, she began engaging in community work and working with young people. Even after getting married at sixteen and taking on family responsibilities, she continued to seek opportunities to learn, participate, and contribute to her community.
Her experiences working with different organizations gradually opened her eyes to a deeper problem: communities, particularly Dalit communities, were often at the centre of development programmes but did not always receive the recognition, opportunities, or meaningful benefits they deserved. This realization became a turning point in her life.
Rather than accepting the system as it was, Ajita decided to build something of her own. With the support of her colleagues and community members, she established an independent organization rooted in community leadership and collective action.
The journey has brought challenges, from limited resources and institutional barriers to skepticism toward Dalit women taking leadership. Yet Ajita continues to stand firm in her belief that marginalized communities should not simply be represented but should have the power to lead, organize, and shape their own futures.
Her story is a journey from lived experience to leadership and from witnessing injustice to building a space for change.