Bhagirathi Devi (born 12 January 1954) is an Indian politician. She is a member of the

Bihar Legislative Assembly The Bihar Legislative Assembly, also known as the Bihar Vidhan Sabha, is the lower house of the bicameral Bihar Legislature of the state of Bihar in India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is ...

, and currently represents Ramnagar, Paschim Champaran. Bhagarithi Devi initially worked as a sweeper in the block development office in Narkatiyaganj,

West Champaran district West Champaran is an administrative district in the state of Bihar in India, located just west of Birgunj. It is the largest district in Bihar with an area of 5,228 km2(2,019sq mi). It is a part of Tirhut Division. The district headquart ...

with as salary. She hails from a Mahadalit family from

Narkatiaganj Narkatiaganj is a town and a notified area in West Champaran district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is a part of Tirhut Division, and situated northwest of capital of the state, Patna. Overview Narkatiaganj is a subdivided region in W ...

in Bihar. Bhagirathi again contested from Ramnagar assembly seat in

2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election The Legislative Assembly election was held over five phases in Bihar through October–November 2015 before the end of the tenure of the prior Legislative Assembly of Bihar on 29 November 2015. In April 2015, the Janata Parivar Alliance group ...

against Congress candidate and won the seat. In April 2015, Bhagirathi Devi fought with Annu Shukla of ruling Janata Dal (United) during the Zero Hour in

over the issue of non-payment of wage under

MGNREGA Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 or MGNREGA, popularly known as Manrega, earlier known as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act or NREGA, is an Indian social welfare measure that aims to guarantee the 'right to w ...

scheme. Bhagirathi Devi initially won elections from now-defunct Shikarpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency) in 2000 and 2005. She is married to a railway employee, Mamikhan Raut.

Award

In 2019, she was honoured with the

Padma Shri The Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī'', lit. 'Lotus Honour'), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. In ...

Award.

Social work

Bhagirathi allowed the Anganwadi Kendra (child care centres) to open its office in her house in

. She especially worked in the field of girls’ education. Bhagirathi spent several years creating mahila sangathans (women's groups) in Narkatiyaganj block, organising women and creating awareness around issues that included domestic violence, violence against dalits and fair wages. She later expanded her political activism to other blocks in the district, going to jail in 1991 for organising demonstrations.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Devi, Bhagirathi Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Bihar People from Araria 1954 births Living people Women members of the Bihar Legislative Assembly Bihar MLAs 2000–2005 Bihar MLAs 2005–2010 Bihar MLAs 2010–2015 People from West Champaran district 21st-century Indian women politicians 20th-century Indian women politicians 20th-century Indian politicians Recipients of the Padma Shri in public affairs Bihar MLAs 2015–2020 Bihar MLAs 2020–2025

Award

Social work

See also

References

External links