Page 144 - Real English 2024 Book 8

DIGITAL RESOURCES

A Beacon Light for 14

the Poor

Women have historically been deprived of authority and political power. To this day, there are social practices
1
that take away women’s rights and freedom. But now society is changing. The village sarpanch Fathima Bi is an
inspirational figure who gained power and worked tirelessly to improve the state of women in her village, letting
nothing stop her in her path.

The 34-year-old Fathima Bi was an ordinary
housewife in an obscure village – Kalva –
2
in the drought-prone Kurnool district of

Andhra Pradesh till she was elected its
sarpanch. What a turning point it was in her
life! Her commitment to fulfil her duties
towards the village council made her a
shining example of what women can do in
public life if given a chance. She achieved

an incredible feat in just three years! The
3
lady was conferred the ‘Race Against
Poverty’ Award for Asia-Pacific region. The
4
5
unassuming Fathima Bi was the cynosure of all eyes at the United
Nations in New York on 16 October 1998 when she was honoured
with the award by the UN Secretary General on the International
6
Poverty Eradication Day. It was truly a dream come true.
7
The UN citation hailed the barely educated woman’s ‘efforts in
10
spearheading social mobilization and community empowerment
9
8
for poverty alleviation and in launching self-initiated programmes
11
aimed at empowerment of women.’ Even though there were four

7.
1.
the head of a village a mention of a praiseworthy act in an official report
8.
2.
unknown leading
9.
3.
granted the act of organizing and encouraging a group of
modest, not drawing attention people for a purpose
4.
10.
the centre of attention the process of giving somebody power and rights
5.
11.
6.
complete removal of something the process of lessening a problem
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