A towering example of leadership and commitment to public office is Susheela Saket, 42, a three-time ward member (2011-2015, 2015-2020, 2022-present) with an astute and compassionate disposition. Being a ward panch in succession was by no means a smooth journey. She would be constantly berated by her husband and father-in-law, “What is the point of these meetings? Are you getting something in return?” She would reply, “Sar dhak ke kab tak rahenge! (How long will I cover my head?).” Women’s access to financial independence remains a major concern. For Susheela, the fact that she was able to connect more than 30 women to different sources of livelihood is the most important accomplishment of her tenure. “I leveraged the NRLM scheme and connected many non-farm hands to access microfinance, government loans, etc., with which they could start small businesses such as opening grocery kiosks and tailoring.” This has, she shared, begun to change challenged deep-rooted attitudes concerning women’s economic participation.