A torchbearer of hope

When girls of her age are enthusiastic about fashion and elegance, Amrata, 23, took the tough path of saving mothers and their unborn children.

In the last one year, she has met, counselled and guided women to keep healthy and get their health rights – issues that women in rural parts of the state face every day.

“I met about 6,000 women seeking health services in one year in Rae Bareli district where I primarily work. Majority feared they won’t get someone to listen to their woes,” says Amrata, an Agrimaa with the community empowerment lab and a native of Rokha village in Rae Bareli.

Agrimaas (meaning torchbearers) are girls who devote two years of life to serve the women. There are 200 of them in the state.

Amrata, who saw the problems faced by women, decided to opt for this service and came across many practical problems that had ready solutions women were deprived of it due to poor accessibility.

Her dedication made her a common face among the medical staff. The benefit is she gets issues resolved fast. Often she has to conduct counselling sessions for women in distress. Her village does not have good education facilities beyond junior schooling. Amrata is pursuing graduation.

Her daily routine starts with visit to one of the community health centres. She meets women and gathers information about their problem and then gets them solved with the help of authorities concerned. She works at 18 such health centres in the district and visits the district hospital when required.

“I have seen VIPs and affluent people getting preference. Though the poor also get facilities but their turn comes late,” she said.

Amrata’s remarkable maturity and presence in the face of tremendous challenges belies her age. Amrata is the youngest of four siblings from an impoverished family. She leads a union of young rural women (Agrimaas) like her who have discovered a beautiful outlet to channelise their angst and sense of disempowerment borne out of extreme hardship.

Moved by the plight of mothers while giving birth in callous environments, Agrimaas have decided to postpone their own marriage and devote two years of their life to the selfless service and care of mothers and babies from rural areas.

UP loses more than 200,000 newborn babies each year to preventable causes.

Recognising the devotion and missionary zeal of Agrimaas, the National Heath Mission has invited them to promote Kangaroo Care – a technique that can prevent 25% of newborn deaths by harnessing the natural power of mothers to protect and nurture their babies by holding them in skin-to-skin contact against their breasts.

Over the last year, Agrimaas have been involved in the care of about 20,000 mothers, and have intensively supported 1,000 mothers in providing Kangaroo Care across public health facilities in Lucknow and Rae Bareli.

Their offering to mothers and newborns is an experience that has been sorely lacking in the health system – of love, empathy and respect.

Agrimaas have won over the hearts of mothers and families – a number of baby girls have been named ‘Agrimaa’ in their honour. Their presence has gradually shifted the norm in public health facilities towards greater empathy and respect.

Their deep devotion for mothers and babies transforms them into fearless warriors, channelling their unschooled rawness that fuels their fight for the rights of every mother and baby.

Agrimaas have been awarded for their exemplary service and their work has been recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Agrimaa Amrata had the honour of being invited as a speaker at the International Conference on ‘Women Leaders in Global Health’ organised by Stanford University in 2017.

In helping mothers heal after giving birth, Agrimaas have found their own healing, and in helping women experience the power of motherhood, they have found expression of their own inner power. Together, these young women are proving that every woman in every village has the power to give something to the world.

Her dream now is to make a large network of Agrimaas. “I believe there should be one Agrimaa in each house so that none of the women have to wait to get their due rights. Once done maternal and child mortality will come down.”