In Alipur Gram Panchayat, located in Amanpur Block of Kasganj District, Uttar Pradesh, lives Anguri Devi and her husband Kallu. Their lives revolve around goat herding, their sole source of livelihood, and their modest thatched house, which has sheltered them for decades. With no children or formal support system, they rely entirely on each other to get through life’s challenges.

Now in her sixties, Anguri Devi and her seventy-year-old husband have spent their lives together, enduring whatever difficulties came their way. In recent years, however, Anguri Devi’s mental health began to deteriorate, adding to their struggles. They visited the local doctor several times, hoping for answers, but with limited access to healthcare and no money for specialist care, they could not pursue treatment. Before they could come to terms with this, another challenge emerged — Anguri Devi’s vision started to fail. What began as mild blurring gradually worsened until both eyes were affected, making even the simplest household tasks overwhelming.

With Anguri Devi no longer able to manage their home, Kallu took on the entire burden, from tending the goats to cooking and caring for his wife. Their age, poor health, and precarious finances made it impossible for them to travel to the district’s Mission Hospital for an eye examination or surgery. A trip would mean losing a full day’s wages — a loss they could not afford. While neighbours occasionally offered support, there was no consistent system to help Anguri Devi get the care she needed.

Local government steps in

Alipur Gram Panchayat oversees two villages under Amanpur Gram Panchayat, which itself is divided into 11 wards and represented by 16 elected members. As part of a pilot project to improve access to eye care at the village level, Alipur was selected for an initiative that placed local governance at the heart of healthcare delivery. The project sought to involve Gram Panchayat members, including the Sarpanch and ward representatives, in ensuring access to essential health services, such as eye screening camps, and in maintaining lists of individuals with disabilities to link them with social security schemes.

Among the ward members was Mohini, a young representative who, before the project, knew little about her official role. During a training session, she learned about her responsibility to address community issues and support the most vulnerable residents.

“This was the first time a team worked with the Gram Panchayat to address these kinds of problems,” Mohini recalled. “People with money can go to private doctors, but poorer families often give up and suffer in silence. Healthcare is expensive, and without support, hope fades.”

From awareness to action

Determined to do more for her community, Mohini began working closely with ASHA workers to support health initiatives in the village. When she learned about the upcoming eye screening camp, she made sure families like Anguri Devi’s knew they could attend without any financial burden.

On the day of the camp, Mohini personally accompanied Anguri Devi and Kallu, ensuring they received proper attention. The screening confirmed that Anguri Devi had advanced bilateral cataracts. Without immediate surgery, she faced permanent blindness.

Even with this diagnosis, the couple hesitated. If Anguri Devi went for surgery, who would care for their goats — their only source of income? They could not afford to leave them unattended.

Understanding their predicament, Mohini stepped in once again. She not only accompanied Anguri Devi to the Mission Hospital, but also reassured the couple that arrangements could be made to ensure their livelihood was not jeopardised. At the hospital, Anguri Devi underwent a free cataract surgery on one eye.

Following medical advice, she returned a month later for surgery on the second eye, restoring her vision fully. With her eyesight recovered, Anguri Devi was able to resume daily tasks, regain her independence, and restore some sense of normality to her and Kallu’s life.

A window into deeper barriers

The challenges faced by Anguri Devi and Kallu reveal multiple layers of exclusion that vulnerable communities experience — limited access to timely information, lack of affordable healthcare, financial insecurity, and the absence of reliable social support systems.

Even after her diagnosis, Anguri Devi would never have reached the hospital without the intervention of her Gram Panchayat and community. Beyond the medical procedures, she needed someone to accompany her, navigate the system, and support her recovery. These often-overlooked logistical and emotional barriers push the most marginalised even further into isolation.

A new kind of leadership

Mohini’s journey from an uncertain ward member to a proactive community leader is just as remarkable as Anguri Devi’s restored vision.

By stepping forward, Mohini not only changed one woman’s life, but also set an example of what local governance can achieve when representatives take ownership of their role.

This initiative did not just bring eye screening services to the village — it demonstrated how ward members can actively support vulnerable residents, making essential services truly accessible. By bridging the gap between healthcare systems and the people who need them most, **Mohini’s actions showed how local leadership can make governance meaningful and inclusive.

Today, Anguri Devi sees the world clearly once again, thanks to the collective efforts of her community and the determination of a young ward member.

Her story is more than just a medical success. It is a testament to the power of knowledge, local leadership, and community action in transforming lives and proving that responsive governance can change even the most isolated lives for the better.