Our Team
Shobha Devi
Kalpana
Manju
Shivshankar
Shyamkali
Rani Devi
Avdhesh
Maya Devi
Farah
Santosh
Radheshyam
Surajkali
Shabina Mumtaz
Board Members
Madhavi Kuckreja
Pachiniya
Dipta Bhog
Kavita Bundelkhandi
Pushpa
Alisha Asif
Rajkumari
Shobha Devi
Supervisor, Case Work & Yuva Programs/Youth Programs
I was born to a poor family. There were a lot of us. My father was an alcoholic and used to beat my mother often. My mother used to take care of us and go to work. She worked as a labourer. We all were scared of our father. I was married off when I was just thirteen and in 8th grade. My husband also turned out to be an alcoholic like my father. My in-laws didn’t want me to study further but I was obstinate and that’s what helped me to study till I graduated. I dreamt of becoming a police inspector one day. But I became a mother before I could pursue my dream. After some time I got to know about Vanangana and I applied for work here. Initially, I thought I wouldn’t be able to work here as the work required me to go to the jungles. After attending training and meetings, I developed confidence and became aware of a lot of things – the different villages of my district, how to handle a case etc. I never imagined I would be the support of so many survivors. The day I sat on a plane was my favourite day. Never had I imagined that I’ll get to sit on a plane. Maybe because I hadn’t expected it, it turned out to be my happiest day. I have three children and I am the most worried about them and their future. Being a single mother, I have to pay their fee and spend on their other requirements. It becomes difficult as I don’t earn so much that I can fulfil all their needs.
Shyamkali
Supervisor, Sangathan
I am Shyamkali and was the only Dalit (lower-caste) girl who went to school. The upper-caste boys teased me on my way to school. I never told anyone about it in my family. I loved studying and I feared they would not let me go to school. I was married off to a mentally unstable man when I was just 14. I had no option but to stay with him after I was married as my family was poor and couldn’t have paid to feed me as well. I gave birth to 2 children. I even tried committing suicide many times but stayed alive for my children. For 20 years I tolerated all the physical, sexual, mental and emotional abuse. I learnt about Vanangana but I was nervous as I had forgotten to read or write. I used to work as a labourer after I got married but still wouldn’t earn enough to feed myself and my children. I practised writing and reading again just to work here. My in-laws are not happy with me working at Vanangana, “What kind of a job is this? You meet so many people, you’re not home the entire day.” I love working in Vanangana. I put a lot of effort and hard work into my work and do it with full devotion. I got aware of my capabilities after I started working. My dream was to give my children a good education but as I didn’t earn so much, I haven’t been able to do it.
Maya Devi
Field Worker, Sangathan
My name is Maya Devi, I am a resident of village Babupur Post Pahari district Chitrakoot, I have done graduation, I have worked on the post of RCF in 2022 in Pani Sanstha, after this, since 1 April 2024, I have been working in Vanangana in which Muslim and Dalit women are organized to get information about their rights and government schemes and to provide benefits to the beneficiaries, along with this, I also work to provide justice to women in cases like violence, which makes me very happy, I like working with women very much, I like to travel outside.
Radheshyam
Varishth Supervisor, Sangathan
I am Radheshyam, a native of village Pathraramani, district Chitrakoot. Both my parents are uneducated but they made sure I finished my schooling. After that, I quit my studies and was sent to learn carpet weaving which I did not enjoy. I began preparing for the exams in order to join the police force but soon after I realised that I did not enjoy their work either so I gave the idea up too. Three years after I quit my studies, Vanangana was frequently visiting my village, educating women about their basic rights. I joined them and began to work for the improvement of drinking water. Later, on attending meetings at the district level, I learnt a lot of new things about women empowerment. I took up the cause of helping Dalit And Tribal women and today, I wish to work with men in the community and help them understand women’s rights and their own masculinity.
Kalpana
Field Worker, Yuva Program
My name is Kalpana and I am 37 years old. I was brought up in a poor family. Their financial condition was very bad. My parents had no children so they adopted me. Due to their poor financial condition, I started working from an early age. In the year 2009, I worked as a case worker in Vanangana Sanstha for about 8 years. After this, I got married and went to my in-laws' house. With time, I gave birth to three girls consecutively. Due to having girls, I started getting harassed in my in-laws' house. And mental and physical violence started. Troubled by this, I again started working with the girls of Yuva Manch in the year 2024 in Vanangana Sanstha. I like to hone the talents of young girls and work on issues related to them. Along with this, I also do case work. I am working to provide justice to women struggling with violence by providing legal and social support. Along with this, I work to establish women with their own identity.
Rani Devi
Supervisor, Case Work
I am a resident of Nai Duniya, Chitrakoot, a small town. I have seen violence against women closely since childhood. Because most of the people of our colony are laborers, drunkards and gamblers. It was his daily job to abuse and beat women after drinking alcohol.
Ever since I was studying, I was wondering whether there was no place where these women could get justice. I got married during my studies and with time had two children. The husband was unemployed. Due to poor financial condition of in-laws, I tried many places in search of work but could not find work anywhere.
In the year 2019 applied in Vanangana where I got a chance to work as a case worker on the issues of violence against women. Since then, I have been working to provide legal and social support to women struggling with violence and bring them to justice. Along with this, they work to establish women with their own identity.
Surajkali
My family was very poor and my father was always ill. My parents couldn’t afford to send me to school but they sent my younger brother and I did the household chores. My mother said, “your-in-laws will see your work, not your degree or education”. I was married at the age of 7 and went to my husband when I was 12. I suffered all kinds of violence and abuse there. I came back to my mother with one child and became part of a women empowerment group where I learnt a lot. I got the opportunity to go out which made me really happy. In 1996 I joined a 6-month literacy program that Vanangana conducted and after that, I joined Vanangana. After starting to work here I developed a lot of confidence and also gathered knowledge about gender, caste, domestic violence, human rights etc. Gradually, I started to make my own decisions. I fought against violence for myself and my sisters whom I worked for. I worked to make women aware of topics that concerned them like health, water, land, finance. Other than this I also participated in street plays that Vanangana conducted for the general public. Wherever I go, I easily befriend people of that locality. I have changed my life in many ways – I live with my children and my Muslim partner in my home, not my husband’s which is a big thing in the region where I live. I love celebrating festivals, dressing up, singing, dancing etc. Nobody can pressurize me now. I do what I like, I wear what I like, I go where I want to go. Of course, there are financial constraints but I’ve fought all the social constraints I am the only person in my family to have travelled on a plane and I am extremely happy and proud about it.
Manju
Netratv Samooh / Finance & Case Worker
I am Manju and I am a 51-year-old single woman. I have been working at Vanangana for 20 years. I was born in a privileged family. I have three sisters and four brothers. Till i was 10 everybody loved me. Then both my sisters were married and I was the only girl in the house. As I hit puberty I was not allowed to go outside the house, whereas my brothers went here. I studied till 10th grade without any hindrance. But after that, my parents didn’t want me to study further. I was married off when I was 20. Gradually, my in-laws started to behave badly. I felt like I was born just to do the household chores all day and get beaten by my husband at night. I told my parents about it but they suggested that I should stay there as it was my home now. When the situation didn’t get better, my father was obligated to take me back. Soon the behaviour of everyone around me changed. There was a time when I thought I should commit suicide because nobody respected me, wanted me or cared for me. I was a burden for everybody. I started to work with Vanangana which helped me realise my worth. My dream is to help women like me who face social, psychological, emotional, physical and sexual abuse. I am happy to be doing exactly that in life. I can feel and understand what rural woman goes through as I have experienced it myself. With the help of the founder of Vanangana, Madhavi Kukreja, I completed my B.ED (Bachelor’s of Education). Working for women’s issues has gotten me a lot of respect from the community, from the organization and from my relatives. Now my work is my passion.
Avdhesh
Netratv Samooh / Case Worker
My name is Avdhesh. I have two sons and I am a single mother. I have been working at Vanangana since 1993. In the beginning, I trained and worked towards establishing the first women hand pump mechanics in the state, and actually repaired pumps with them, After this, I made a Sangathan (Collective) of Dalit, Muslim and Tribal women and worked for their rights and empowerment. Today I am one of the leaders in Vanangana and coordinate the work to support women who have been victims of violence in their journey for justice. I was forced into marriage at 17 to a person who had been married already and was double my age. Within a few days, my in-laws started to harass me but I endured it all as I belonged to a poor family. I decided to leave my husband. I went to Vanangana for support 20 years ago and today I am living on my own and support hundreds of other women. I dream that I have my own house and live in it with my children, but I don’t know if this will ever come true.
Santosh
My struggle began at home when I was 14 years old. I belong to a very small village where my father had a small shop. I was the eldest amongst four sisters and three brothers. My father was not well educated, while my mother had completed high school. It was her dream to make sure her kids study well. My father, on the other hand, had no interest in our studies and because of this, they would violently fight. In high school, my father got me married. It was my dream to be a teacher, to have my own car and house and be independent. My father married me off to a boy who was in primary school. My in-laws did not want me to be educated but I went on to complete my graduation. I gave birth to a baby boy and after that, I got a job that paid me 500 Rupees. This was empowering for me. But my in-laws were not happy that I was staying at my maternal home. They took the matter to the village Panchayat where we were ridiculed and I was sent back to my husband. I coaxed him to live with me and I began to earn again. This didn’t last too long and he left the house. Now I live on my own and have made a friend who is very kind to me. My son is now a graduate and my daughter is studying to become a nurse. I believe my struggle will continue as that is what life is about, but at the same time, I try to enjoy my life and fulfil all my dreams. I work to support survivors of violence now.
Shabina Mumtaz
Varishth Sandarbh Samooh / Senior Resource Person
My name is Shabina and I belong to a middle-income Muslim family. My family went through a lot of trouble financially because my father was physically impaired. I was the first one in my family to complete her graduation as a girl, and soon after I was married off. There, I suffered a lot of mental abuse because they wanted more dowry. I also gave birth to a son and tried to stay with my in-laws. But my husband divorced me and for the next four years, I fought against it, only to give up and accept it. I had been working at Vanangana at this time and earning money on my own gave me a lot of strength and confidence. However, I could not figure out how to make sure my son studied well enough to become a good person. Madhavi Kukreja, then, took him under her care and now Azal lives with her and is in high school. I fulfilled my dream to have a house and now I am working on getting a car for my family. I also have a very understanding partner who is supportive of my work and lifestyle. I am even praised in my town for all the struggles that I have gone through in life and my work. Vanangana gave me a new life and I believe we can all choose our own paths if we have someone to show us the way. Vanangana is one of them, and now I am always here to help all women, working on violence against women is my passion.
Shivshankar
Accountant
Shivshankar is from Karwi, and has been our Accounts support system for over 28 years. He is currently also part of our Finance team. Although other than just that, he also witnessed and engaged in many of our projects, campaigns and interventions on the ground.
Farah
Case Worker
My name is Farha. I have graduated. I hail from Banda district, do casework on violence with women for 4 years in l'Vanagna Sanstha. Working on women's issues. Also, I feel happy from within in taking women to the ladder of justice. Earlier, he had worked in an organization on the rights of migrant labourers I am fond of travelling and enjoy reading stories.
Madhavi Kuckreja
Founder, of Vanangana, Social Entrepreneur, Cultural Ambassador and a Women’s Rights Activist, Madhavi is a distinguished leader in the fields of social development, cultural preservation, and women’s empowerment. As also the Founder of Sanatkada Trust, and Mahindra Sanatkada Lucknow Festival, she has played a pivotal role in promoting the rich cultural heritage of Lucknow, ensuring that traditional handloom work and crafts continue to thrive in a rapidly modernizing world. A highly skilled executive with expertise in strategic leadership, communication, and high-level negotiations, she has successfully led multiple initiatives that have garnered widespread recognition. With a career dedicated to social impact, Madhavi has been honored with numerous awards for contributions to women’s rights, cultural preservation, and community development.
Dipta Bhog
Lead, Innovations and Partnerships at The Third Eye portal and Nirantar, A Centre for Gender and Education, Dipta has worked on gender and education for close to three decades. She co-founded Nirantar, a Centre for Gender and Education in Delhi and has worked as a journalist and a women’s rights activist, and has extensive experience of working on women’s literacy, adult and girls education at the level of program design, implementation, policy and impact.
Pushpa
Founder of Vanangana, currently the Director, Pushpa is from Tindwari village. She is a survivor of violence herself and a single mother. Her experience is in Adult Literacy, our work on Violence Against Women, Theatre and Community Mobilization & Organizing. She has been part of Vanangana for 30 years.
Rajkumari
Rajkumari, a board member of Vanangana hails from Dadhi village of Chitrakoot. She has been connected to the organization since its inception. She is known as a hand pump mechanic in the district of Chitrakoot. Kumari was married off at a very young age to a man who already was a father to two girls. She herself had six children and took extreme care of all her children's education. She took a step forward and became the leader of Dalit Mahila Samiti. Her image of being a hand pump mechanic changed to the image of someone who's a leader in the area. Rajkumari through her lived and seen experiences of ground realities in one of India's most backward districts contributes heavily to the organization. Her views, opinions and vision helps Vanangana a great deal.
Pachiniya
Pachinia Ji is a resident of Bhouri village in Chitrakoot district and a member of the Vanangana board. Pachiniya has made a mark in her village by opposing the caste-based violence against Dalit women and the community. Pachiniya also opposed gender-based discrimination in her family and broke the stereotypes by bringing her daughters and daughters-in-law into leadership roles traditionally thought of as roles assigned to only men. Pachiniya is the leading lady of Dalit Mahila Samiti, her simple and positive thinking inspires the Dalit community. She makes active and remarkable efforts to improve the functioning of the organization.
Kavita Bundelkhandi
Kavita Devi, alternatively Kavita Bundelkhandi, is an Indian journalist and news presenter. She is the editor-in-chief and co-founder of the grassroots feminist news network Khabar Lahariya. She has had a rich background in working at the grassroots with many organisations and communities, programmatically and beyond.
Alisha Asif
Backed by a Master's in Social Work and Bachelor's in Journalism, Alisha is a Communications' Consultant specialising in organic Development, Community, Cultural and Donor Communication, with 14+ years of experience! A writer, editor, and life skills facilitator, with a background in communication (MarCom and Behavioral Change Communications), curriculum development, gender, and grassroots outreach, Alisha has a keen interest in socio-development issues of youth, mental health, films, and sustainable and participatory development. Coming from Sikhi-Muslim parentage, she upholds the power of empathy, safe spaces, non-violent communication, conversations, and free speech and doen’t see her identity as independent of those.
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