Haryana: Woman sarpanch runs free bus service for girl students in Fatehabad village
For the past three years, Amandeep Kaur, the sarpanch of Talwara village in Fatehabad district, has been running a free bus service for school and college-going girls, ensuring they travel safely to Jakhal and back. The service is completely free, and no student is charged a single rupee.
Amandeep Kaur, wife of Mandeep Singh, said the initiative was inspired by her own struggles in childhood. Originally from Hukmawali village in Ratia block, she recalled how girls in her village could study only up to Class VIII locally. To continue education, she had to travel seven kilometres daily to Haroli village, often on foot or bicycle, facing fatigue and fear. Many girls in her village dropped out after Class VIII or Class X because transportation and safety were major obstacles.
“I completed my schooling under difficult conditions, and even for higher education, I had to rely on remote learning,” she said. “I promised myself that if I ever got a chance, I will ensure no girl’s education is stopped due to lack of resources.” After marrying and moving to Talwara, Amandeep became the village sarpanch. One of her first actions in the office was to set up a free bus service to Jakhal for girls pursuing education beyond high school. “Every day, I see the girls travel safely and return with confidence. This is not just my achievement, it’s the victory for the entire village,” she said.
The sarpanch emphasised that the initiative was a collective effort. The village panchayat fully funds the bus service to ensure that economic status or transportation challenges do not prevent any girl from studying. In addition to the safe transport, the panchayat also rewards top-performing students. The girls scoring more than 80 per cent in Class X or XII receive cash prizes and public recognition, fostering a culture of learning and healthy competition in the village.
Reflecting on her journey, Amandeep said, “The same roads I once cycled alone taught me that when a woman is determined, she can change not only her own life but also the future of an entire generation.”
