Bhagirathi Devi Explained

Bhagirathi Devi
Birth Date:12 January 1954
Birth Place:Narkatiaganj, West Champaran district, Bihar
Residence:Shikarpur, West Champaran district, Bihar
Occupation:Politician
Social worker
Nationality:Indian
Party:Bharatiya Janata Party
Spouse:Mamikhan Raut
Children:6
Office1:Member of Bihar Legislative Assembly
Term1:2010
Predecessor1:Chandra Mohan Rai
Constituency1:Ramnagar
Term Start2:2000
Term End2:2010
Predecessor2:Bhola Ram Toofani
Successor2:Constituency defunct
Constituency2:Shikarpur

Bhagirathi Devi (born 12 January 1954) is an Indian politician. She is a member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, and currently represents Ramnagar, Paschim Champaran.[1] [2] Bhagarithi Devi initially worked as a sweeper in the block development office in Narkatiyaganj, West Champaran district with as salary.

She hails from a Mahadalit family from Narkatiaganj in Bihar. Bhagirathi again contested from Ramnagar assembly seat in 2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election against Congress candidate and won the seat.[3] [4] [5] [6] In April 2015, Bhagirathi Devi fought with Annu Shukla of ruling Janata Dal (United) during the Zero Hour in Bihar Legislative Assembly over the issue of non-payment of wage under MGNREGA scheme.[7] Bhagirathi Devi initially won elections from now-defunct Shikarpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency) in 2000 and 2005. She is married to a railway employee, Mamikhan Raut.

Award

In 2019, she was honoured with the Padma Shri Award.[8]

Social work

Bhagirathi allowed the Anganwadi Kendra (child care centres) to open its office in her house in West Champaran district. She especially worked in the field of girls’ education. Bhagirathi spent several years creating mahila sangathans (women's groups) in Narkatiyaganj block, organising women and creating awareness around issues that included domestic violence, violence against dalits and fair wages. She later expanded her political activism to other blocks in the district, going to jail in 1991 for organising demonstrations.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: From Proxies To Politicians: Bihar's Female MLAs. thequint. thequint . 2011-01-15 .
  2. Web site: Sweeper-turned-MLA champion of rights. Deccan Herald. 11 June 2012 .
  3. News: New Bihar MLAs take oath in assembly . 1 December 2015 . PTI . The Economic Times . 29 November 2018 .
  4. News: Bihar election results 2015: Women MLAs' number comes down by 6 to 28 . 10 November 2015 . Vithika . Salomi . The Times of India . 29 November 2018 .
  5. News: Tough task for Congress to wrest seats from BJP | Patna News - Times of India. The Times of India. 21 September 2015 .
  6. News: BJP names candidates from 99 assembly seats | Patna News - Times of India. The Times of India. 21 September 2015 .
  7. Web site: Bihar Assembly adjourned after 2 rival women MLAs get into a fight. 22 April 2015. DNA India.
  8. News: Padma awards for 2019 announced: Full list of awardees. News Minute. 25 January 2019. 28 January 2019.