Rajkumari, a Pahari Korwa girl from the village of Kadamjheria in Korba district, has emerged from the difficult circumstances of the forest region and carved a new identity for herself through education, becoming an inspiration for her community. Rajkumari, a resident of the village panchayat Garhupora in the Korba development block, belongs to the Pahari Korwa community, a special backward tribe, where access to education is still limited.
Rajkumari’s childhood was spent in poverty. Working as a laborer with her family and gathering forest produce from the forests was their daily routine. Their financial situation was so poor that even securing one meal a day was a challenge. Living in a thatched house, Rajkumari found it difficult to continue her education.
Her family refused to send her to another village for further studies after the fifth grade, but she refused to give up. Believing education to be a life-changing tool, she resolved to continue her studies by enrolling in the Adivasi Kanya Ashram in Satrenga. After completing her eighth grade, she remained at home and passed the tenth and twelfth grades as a self-taught student.
During this time, social taunts also posed a significant challenge for her: “Girls don’t need to study too much” and “Too much education is detrimental” all tried to dampen her spirits. But Rajkumari’s goal was clear: to bring about change for her community by joining the mainstream. Recognizing her dedication and ability, the Tribal Development Department enrolled her in a computer course. Subsequently, under a special recruitment drive by the Korba district administration, she was appointed to the post of Assistant Grade-03 at the Pondi-Uporda Tehsil Office on January 1, 2022.
Today, Rajkumari is financially independent and lives a respectable life. Her standard of living has changed significantly—she now has access to a vehicle, household amenities, and better housing. She lives a happy life with her family in the government colony, Pondi-Uporda, while her permanent home is under construction in Konkona village. Rajkumari’s success is now having an impact on her community. Seeing her, other young women and young men are becoming more aware of education and enrolling in government institutions.