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 Bihar Legislature where the first elections were held in 1952.
The total strength of membership in the Assembly was 331, including one nominated m ...
, and currently represents
Ramnagar, Paschim Champaran. Bhagarithi Devi initially worked as a sweeper in the block development office in Narkatiyaganj,
West Champaran district 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 subdivision region in Wes ...
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 group (a 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
Bihar Legislative Assembly
The Bihar Legislative Assembly, also known as the Bihar Vidhan Sabha, is the lower house of the Bihar Legislature where the first elections were held in 1952.
The total strength of membership in the Assembly was 331, including one nominated m ...
over the issue of non-payment of wage under
MGNREGA
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 or MNREGA, earlier known as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act or NREGA, is an Indian labour law and social security measure that aims to guarantee the 'right to work'. This a ...
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
Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), 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. Instituted on 2 January 1954, ...
Award.
Social work
Bhagirathi allowed the Anganwadi Kendra (child care centres) to open its office in her house in
West Champaran district. 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.
See also
*
Jitan Ram Manjhi
Jitan Ram Manjhi (born 6 October 1944) is an Indian politician from the eastern state of Bihar who served as its 23rd Chief Minister from 20 May 2014 to 20 February 2015. He is President of Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM). Previously, he had serv ...
*
Manoj Bajpai
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
21st-century Indian 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