Lakhimi Baruah is the great example of women empowerment

Dreams are not that which you see in sleep, dreams are that which do not let you sleep - APJ Abdul Kalam

Lakhimi Barua started Kanaklata Mahila Sahakari (Cooperative) Bank in Jorhat, Assam in 1998 to make needy and underprivileged women financially independent and secure.

Lakhimi Baruah was born in 1949 in a small village in the Jorhat district of Assam. A sad incident happened after her birth when her mother got absorbed in the divine. And she was deprived of her mother's caress since birth.

Her father and family members played a full role in her upbringing and brought her up with lots of love. Her father took care of her every need when her financial condition was not very good.

She was good at studies, so her father did not compromise with her education. But sometimes the circumstances are not in favor. When she was pursuing her graduation, her father died suddenly.

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The economic condition of the family members was also deteriorating, but she supported them according to her ability and made them realize the importance of economic security for any human being, especially women, in these difficult circumstances. The family members made her confident and strong. But due to weak financial condition, she had to leave her college in 1969.

In 1973, she married Prabhat Baruah. Prabhat Baruah was a man of simple, settled, and progressive thoughts. She inspired Lakhimi Baruah to be progressive in life. And encouraged them to complete their college studies. Lakhimi Barua obtained her bachelor's degree in 1980 from Vahana College, Jorhat. In the same year, she joined 'District Central Cooperative Bank as Accountant Manager. And this also inspired her to choose the goal of her life, which her husband also gave full support.

Some incidents during her service used to hurt her a lot. Often poor, uneducated women from nearby villages, tea garden laborers stood silently for hours in long queues for bank loans, and when they reached the counter, they were returned empty-handed, Because they did not have any necessary documents. The pleading of helpless women, their tears used to shake Lakhimi Barua. Some wanted to get rid of unhappy marriages, while some wanted to educate their children. But being bound by the rules and regulations of the bank, she could not help those women even if she wanted to.

Her conscience was nagging her to create some better opportunities for those poor, uneducated women. Such frequent sentences inspired her and she formed a Mahila Samiti in 1983 in Jorhat. While working on this committee, she became aware of the factors of economic insecurity of those women.

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The women working in the tea gardens of the surrounding areas did not have any savings, because they used to spend their earnings for household expenses and if anything was left, their husbands or family members used to demand that amount from them. If ever they had a need, they had no option but to take loans from local moneylenders at higher rates, as it was difficult to get bank loans in the absence of documents. The loan was also needed because those women did not have any habit of saving.

Lakhimi Barua quit her bank job and started Kanaklata Mahila Cooperative Bank in 1990 to position her objective of helping needy women. She had to struggle for eight years for the registration. The authority had a stringent requirement of at least 1,000 members and a capital of Rs 8,00,000.

The name Kanaklata was suggested by her husband. Kanaklata Baruah is a freedom fighter from Assam who was shot dead at the age of 17 for unfurling the Tricolor during the Quit India Movement. And Lakhimi Baruah had also taken a pledge for the economic security of the women of independent India.

Standing firm in the face of continuous struggle with determination, Lakhimi Baruah reached her goal of strengthening the economic status of women. Domestic women also played an important role in this work. Showing faith in him, the women bought the shares of this cooperative with their deposits and savings. Lakhimi Baruah's cooperative bank was registered on May 22, 1998.

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The bank started with 6 women employees who were selected through an examination and on the basis of their merit.

In 1999 they also raised a capital of Rs.8,45,000 and 1,420 members. In February 2000, she also got a 'Commercial Banking' license from the Reserve Bank of India.

Kanaklata Mahila Cooperative Bank is operated by women employees only. Lakhimi Baruah not only provides loans to needy women with low-interest rates and terms but is also providing employment to educated and efficient women. Here the female employees working in the bank help the uneducated women to fill out the form. Here zero balance account or ₹ 20 accounts can also be opened.

Now the women there deposit their savings in a bank account and can easily get loans if needed. Account holders in this bank can deposit even a very small amount of ₹ 20 daily, such a rule was made because most of the account holders are female laborers.

The first branch of Kanaklata Mahila Cooperative Bank was opened in 2002 at Gar-Ali. Besides this, they now have three more branches in two districts – Jorhat (Jorhat and Mariani) and Sivasagar (Shivsagar).

This bank, run by only women personnel for the last two decades, has more than 45 thousand account holders, most of whom are women. So far more than 8,000 women and 1,200 women self-help groups have benefitted from here.

In March 2016, she was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar by former President Pranab Mukherjee for her exceptional contribution to women's empowerment.

Lakhimi Baruah, who has made positive changes in the lives of thousands of poor, educated, and uneducated women, has been decorated with Padma Shri this year (2021) appreciating her excellent work.

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