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Whispers of Success Through Actions: Story of Aklima Khatun
Introduction
Aklima Khatun is a 30-year-old woman from Simlabari Pt. 3 village under the Chapar Salkocha Block of Dhubri district. Her locality is a flood-affected area, also known as the Char area, and despite all such challenges, she has emerged as a beacon of hope and resilience. She is a member of the Sun Self-help Group (SHG) under the Rupali Village Organization (VO). She got married at 16 but her husband encouraged her unlike others among her peers to continue her education, leading her to clear her Higher Secondary (HS) exams. Her story took a transformative turn when she joined the Mein Pragati Project under the CRISIL Foundation in 2022, enabling her to, directly and indirectly, impact her community positively.
Innovations by Aklima During
Established a CSC centre, enabling her community to avail services like Aadhaar updates, banking, and online payments without having to travel long distances.
Through community mobilization, she has inspired other SHG members to adopt digital payment systems and engage in income-generating activities, she also played a crucial role in helping her village become more informed about government schemes through structured awareness drives.
In response to the community’s demand, she has taken the initiative to contest in the upcoming Panchayat elections, showcasing her leadership skills and commitment to serving the community. This proactive approach highlights her dedication to addressing local needs and her willingness to step up in a leadership role.
Challenges faced and how she overcame them
Aklima faced significant challenges, particularly due to her limited access to technology, which initially hindered her plans. However, she took proactive steps to overcome these obstacles by investing her earnings in a laptop and printer. This investment proved to be instrumental in her success, enabling her to pursue her goals more effectively and efficiently.
Conclusion
From the day she began her journey to becoming a community leader from a housewife. Her community also nudged her to run for the next Panchayat elections as a member, inspired by her accomplishment, which is yet another stepping stone on her journey