Anita Rai is the executive director of Karapara Nari Kalyan Sangstha. The organisation works for rural development with a focus on education, child trafficking and women’s rights.

Anita Rai lost her husband on September 28, 2001, the same day she left her husband’s home with her only child, her son. “I was married when I was in class nine. I completed my class ten after marriage. I was a housewife for a while and later became a social worker. My husband was supportive but his mother was upset with me for going out of the house. My in-laws said it is immoral for me to leave the house and that too so often. When he passed away his family tried to stop me again, I knew I didn’t want to be there anymore. So I came to my father’s home.”

She became a fulltime social worker, “I had nothing to live for except for my son and I hoped to improve my community. Initially my family was hesitant to support me. They said I am a widow and it does not look good for me to go out, but they accepted my point of view later.” Once Anita Rai joined the ‘We Can’ campaign, she visited her in-laws several times to talk to them and begin a sensitisation process. At the same time her father, who is a doctor, spoke to her in-laws. Eventually they visited Rupantar and saw for themselves what kind of work their daughter-in-law was doing. Since then both families have supported her completely. “I want society to look at me as an example and see that I have overcome several obstacles. I believe they can do the same.”