Archive · 14 Jan 2026
Maharashtra Village Transformed by Woman Sarpanch
In a small village called Dawwa in Maharashtra, a woman named Yogeshwari became the sarpanch (leader) after her husband passed away.
She wanted to make her village better, so she started planting trees, using solar power, and teaching people how to farm in better ways.
The village won some big awards and got a lot of money to help with these projects.
Now, the village has more trees, better farms, and even solar-powered schools.
Yogeshwari showed that with hard work and community support, even a small village can make a big difference in taking care of the environment.
Dawwa village in Maharashtra won the Climate Action Special Panchayat Award (CASPA) and secured a Rs 1 crore prize for its climate efforts.
Sarpanch Yogeshwari Chatrugan Chaudhary led the transformation, focusing on afforestation, solar power, and sustainable farming.
The village has planted over 116,000 trees, established solar-powered irrigation and schools, and formed 38 women's self-help groups.
Dawwa has received multiple awards and recognitions, totaling Rs 1.61 crore in prizes.
The village's efforts have improved paddy yields, orchards, and livestock numbers, and promoted gender empowerment and community participation.
- Who
- Yogeshwari Chatrugan Chaudhary, the sarpanch of Dawwa village in Maharashtra
- What
- Transformed the village through climate action, gender empowerment, and community participation
- When
- Since December 2023
- Where
- Dawwa village in Gondia's Sadak Arjuni taluka, Maharashtra
- Why
- To address degraded soil, failing crops, and youth migration, and to promote sustainability
- Village
- Dawwa, Gondia's Sadak Arjuni taluka, Maharashtra
- Sarpanch
- Yogeshwari Chatrugan Chaudhary
- Awards Won
- Climate Action Special Panchayat Award (CASPA), Sant Gadge Baba Award, Majhi Vasundhara Award
- Total Prize Money
- Rs 1.61 crore
- Trees Planted
- 116,000
- Households with Solar Power
- 400+
- Farmer Groups
- 5
- Women's Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
- 38