How Pappu Kunwar speaks up for women and disabled citizens!

Meet Pappu Kunwar, our Citizen Champion from Barmer district, Rajasthan. As a Samta Fellow with CORO India, she attended our training sessions and has used the constitutional knowledge she gained from her experience to strengthen her advocacy for various social issues. This includes promoting the rights of disabled individuals and women, and addressing important welfare issues such as pensions, among many others.

One day in her district, two visually impaired siblings were denied entry onto a public bus, being told there was no reservation for them. Recognising this as a violation of their rights, Pappu quickly filed a complaint on their behalf. This led to the bus conductor and driver sincerely apologising to the siblings for their misconduct.

Coming from a society where girls are often seen as burdens and widows are denied vibrant lives, Pappu also took it upon herself to change this prevailing mindset. She mobilised women to advocate for themselves, mentioning, 'If we raise our voice for someone else, how long will that voice echo? We must teach people to raise their voices for themselves, so they can speak up when needed.'

Pappu dreams of opening a centre with good internet connectivity, where women and young girls can learn about their rights and spread their wings. This way, equality won't just be a word in the Constitution but will be seen as a social reality.

The above story has been written and published with the explicit consent of the individual involved. All facts presented are based on WTPA's direct interaction with the individual, ensuring accuracy and integrity in our reporting.