Neelam Kumari Chaudhary, a 44-year-old woman, is an inspiring figure in her community. With two daughters and a son, she has always emphasized the importance of financial independence for women. Both of her daughters have pursued careers in technical fields—one in nursing and the other in IT—working outside the district. Neelam believes that financial independence is essential for women so they never have to ask for money, even from their future husbands.

Despite her busy family life, Neelam is deeply engaged in social activism. She has pursued education up to a bachelor's degree and has been involved in various groups over the years. She serves as the chairperson (Adhakshya) of a Farmers Group under one of CARE’s projects and coordinates the Laliguras Sasu Samuha (Laliguras Mother-in-Law Group). Additionally, she is a community volunteer (Samaj Sewak) and a former tutor.

Her husband, a Nepali teacher at both school and college levels, has always been supportive, even when her father-in-law questioned her involvement in community meetings. Though he attended the gender sessions, his participation was limited due to his teaching responsibilities. As a person with a disability, he has always encouraged Neelam’s leadership and activism.

Neelam is also a key member of the Quick Response Team (QRT) in Dhandadimai, which was formed under the leadership of the Deputy Mayor to support survivors of violence. While there have been no cases so far, she and her team are well-prepared to take the necessary steps, such as involving the police and One-Stop Crisis Management Centers (OCMCs). She now feels confident in advocating for survivors and ensuring that their voices are heard by law enforcement and community leaders.

“We now understand that we also need to listen to the survivor’s situation and make others, including the police, listen as well,” Neelam states with confidence. Her group actively shares their knowledge, but she believes that additional sessions for other groups would accelerate change. “We are doing what we can, but these kinds of sessions would speed things up.”

Neelam is proud to be part of the QRT at the municipal level, knowing that she can support survivors of violence and help bring about lasting change in her community.