By Raajwrita Dutta 5 August 2025
In Manak Khana, Punjab, women were rarely seen in public roles. But one young woman changed the village, starting with a simple nameplate initiative.
In 2019, 22-year-old Sheshandeep Kaur Sidhu became the first woman Sarpanch of her village, a place where leadership was always male.
“I was quite confused and uncertain about where to begin, but I knew this was an opportunity to make a difference,” she recalls.
She decided to add women’s names to doorplates, an act that defied a deep-rooted custom of only naming male heads of household.
“Women have long been denied recognition for their contributions,” Sheshandeep says. The change affected all 110 households in the village.
One woman tearfully said she had never been allowed to leave her home, now, seeing her name on the door made her feel proud and valued.
Sheshandeep also added a park for women and children, creating a safe and open space where women could relax, talk freely, and step out of domestic confines.
Even after her term ended in March 2024, Sheshandeep continues to empower women through ‘Read India’, teaching stitching and computer skills.