My name is Pappu Kanwar, and I am a social worker and activist from Barmer, Rajasthan. Barmer is a socially backward area, with the prevalence of rampant casteism and violence against women, which makes working here particularly difficult. Over the years, I’ve dedicated myself to working for women’s rights and disability rights, trying to make a difference despite the challenges.
To this end, I set up a women’s collective called Aastha Mahila Sangathan, which has more than 250 women. We’ve formed women’s groups as part of the sangathan and together we address financial and social challenges, tackling issues that families might be facing before they escalate. The women play a key role now in resolving local problems and defusing tensions. For example, in a recent case, an intoxicated man was about to harm his wife and his mother. We called the police, who intervened in time. While we handle many issues ourselves, the police’s involvement is vital in critical situations. The collective is active in rural Barmer and its surrounding areas.
Since 2003, I’ve also been involved with the District Disability Rights Forum, which has helped the disabled community gain a voice at the district and state level. The organisation assists people with disabilities in getting necessary documents like bus and railway passes, and provides other essential services such as equipment and aid.
I myself have a physical disability, which has shaped much of my advocacy for the rights of persons with disabilities.
6.00 AM: When I wake up, the first thing I do is pray to God for a good day. If I haven’t made my schedule for the day the previous night, I do it in the morning. After getting ready and finishing my household chores, I generally go to field sites around Barmer, meet people who are experiencing delays in receiving government entitlements, those who are experiencing domestic violence, widowed women who have been ostracised from society—the list [of issues] is endless.
I’ve been working with the disabled community in Barmer since 2002—organising them, raising awareness about their issues, and helping them access pensions, disability certificates, and other government entitlements. At first, people were hesitant to come together, fearing the judgement of society. Many non-disabled people would stare at us and make distasteful comments. But the more we started meeting and advocating for rights, the less we started caring about society’s gaze. Now we openly greet each other, share our problems, and support one another, without fearing what other people will say.
It has been a long and eventful journey. In 1997, I had a surgery to help me walk. It took me a year after the surgery to completely learn how to walk on my own. It was incredibly difficult. But my mother would always say, “You will do it, don’t give up! Let people say what they want; we are your strength.” Her words have kept me going, and have helped me realise that, like me, others face struggles too, and we must keep moving forward, regardless of what people say.
Many women want to study, but they aren’t allowed due to various reasons.
After I learned to walk, I started working at an STD booth in 2003. At first, I didn’t know how to hold even a basic conversation with people outside of my family, but over time, I learned by listening and talking while at work. People shared their problems with me, which made me realise that I can contribute to society in some way. I thought to myself, “Even if I can’t do much, I can at least teach basic literacy.” Reading is so important—it helps people navigate the world.
I asked women in the community if they would like to learn to read, and they were enthusiastic about it. Many women want to study, but they aren’t allowed due to various reasons. So, I started a literacy programme in 2005, teaching basic reading skills to 10–15 women at a time. In just 15 days, I was able to teach them the basics, and over time, I helped around 100 women learn how to read. This success motivated me to focus on improving women’s income and earning capacity. I began teaching them how to sew, offering free lessons. I’ve trained four batches of women, and even if they need help late at night, I try to be there for them and prioritise their needs. Today, many of these women have opened small sewing centres or work at shops and earn a living, which brings me immense happiness.
1.00 PM: I usually take a break at around 1 pm for lunch. While my work varies from day to day depending on my schedule, after lunch, I often spend the rest of the afternoon in the field—meeting with women’s groups or addressing rights-related issues.
A non-negotiable for us is that we work with all communities, without discriminating on the basis of caste or class.
The problems we face in this area take many forms. For example, a few years ago, I experienced challenges due to the poor condition of the road in my neighbourhood. My adult tricycle would not move smoothly on this road. And every day after work I would have to call my mother to help me cross it. My mother, and one or two other women, would come to take me home. Every person with a disability in the area faced this issue, but all of them were afraid to take action. One day, around eight of us got together and went to our ward member. Because of our collective voice, within 10–15 days, the road was rebuilt.
Over the years, we’ve built a strong network, and now even government officials and the police work with us. Initially, we didn’t know how to address the problems, but we’ve developed a system. Whenever a new government scheme comes up, we quickly share the information within our WhatsApp groups.
A non-negotiable for us is that we work with all communities, without discriminating on the basis of caste or class. One of our focus areas has been on reducing such intolerance around us, as no economic or livelihood issue will ever be resolved if people don’t work together for social change. Many of the women we work with understand this and are trying to break away from casteist practices. For example, now the women’s groups eat together, which was unimaginable before because of caste-based discrimination in Barmer. I’ve seen this transformation first-hand.
4.00 PM: As the day winds down, I tend to go to the office to do some administrative work, process any bills that need to be paid, and either attend or give trainings on various topics.
When I was a fellow at CORO India, I attended many trainings, including on constitutional values and rights by We, The People Abhiyan. These helped me improve my understanding of how to fight for the rights and entitlements of women and persons with disabilities. The Digital Empowerment Foundation’s Digital Sarthak programme also empowered me to use digital technology for good. I started using a computer and smartphone to pay electricity bills and fill forms to register for government benefits, and eventually training many women from the community in some of these digital skills. Now, many women in the area can use phones, and some use social media such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and YouTube to promote their small businesses, while others learn new skills such as cooking by watching videos.
More lives can be transformed with proper support and opportunities.
Although extremely necessary, one of the most difficult parts of my work is helping people with disabilities as many are completely dependent on their families due to a lack of awareness about alternatives. One of the members of the forum is unable to move on his own and requires constant care. We took him to a rehabilitation centre, where he learned computer skills with ease, as he is very bright. Now, he’s using these skills to become financially independent. This experience gives us hope that more lives can be transformed with proper support and opportunities.
7.00 PM: I usually reach home at 7 pm, although there are days when I arrive much later. Every night, I take time to review my day’s work. I reflect on what went well and what didn’t, documenting my thoughts in my diary. This helps me assess my progress and plan for the following day. It’s important for me to stay mindful of my goals and what needs to be accomplished. In my free time, I like listening to bhajans.
In the early days of my work, I encountered a lot of scepticism, particularly because I am a woman with a disability. People often said, “What can she do? She’s disabled.” Sadly, this is a reality that many of us face daily. However, I chose to rise above those comments and continue moving forward. My mother once reminded me that not all fingers are the same size—everyone is unique and has their own journey. This belief in my potential gave me the strength to persevere in my work.
As told to IDR.
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Know more
- Read this primer on India’s disability law.
- Learn more about how women with disabilities are at higher risk of abuse.
- Learn why lakhs of pensioners in Rajasthan, including those with disabilities, are being denied their pension.
