Draft:Neeru Yadav
Neeru Yadav, popularly known as the "Hockey Wali Sarpanch," is an Indian environmentalist and politician. She holds an M.Sc in Mathematics, a B.Ed, and an M.Ed degree. Neeru Yadav has served as a sarpanch, and is widely recognized as a grassroots leader, social innovator, environmentalist, educationist, rural governance practitioner, sports promoter, and advocate for women's empowerment and sustainable development.
She has represented India at several national and international forums, including the 57th Session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development (CPD) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and the BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting in Kochi, Kerala. She was invited as a Celebrity Guest on Kaun Banega Crorepati (Season 15) and as a Special Guest to the 78th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 August 2024.
Early Life
Neeru Yadav was born on 7 May 1990 in Narnaul, Mahendragarh District, Haryana, India. She spent her childhood and completed her early education in Haryana. Following her marriage, she moved to Lambi Ahir village in Buhana Tehsil, Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan, where she later entered public life and was elected Sarpanch.
Education
Neeru Yadav completed her M.Sc in Mathematics and also earned a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) and Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree.
Family
Neeru Yadav is married to Ashok Kumar Yadav, a Civil Engineer. The couple has two children: a son, Divit Yadav, and a daughter, Aditri Yadav.
Political Career
Neeru Yadav was elected as the Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat Lambi Ahir in October 2020. Since taking office, she has worked extensively in the fields of rural development, environmental sustainability, women's leadership, education, sports, and participatory governance, engaging in local governance and community leadership.
She is popularly known as the "Hockey Wali Sarpanch" for promoting girls' participation in hockey while simultaneously introducing innovative governance models in rural Rajasthan.
Major Initiatives
During her tenure as Sarpanch, Neeru Yadav has initiated and led several community-based development projects, including:
- Bartan Bank – a community initiative aimed at eliminating single-use plastic during social functions
- Biodiversity Park – restoration of village common land through large-scale plantation, water conservation, and biodiversity protection
- Girls' Hockey Academy – promotion of girls' participation in sports by establishing a hockey training ecosystem in the village
- English Medium Play School – improving access to quality early childhood education in rural areas
- Women's Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) – supporting women entrepreneurs and enhancing rural livelihoods
- Water conservation and environmental campaigns – plantation drives, rainwater conservation, and climate-resilient village development
- Promotion of community participation through innovative Gram Panchayat governance
The Bartan Bank initiative received recognition from the Government of Rajasthan, and its model was adopted for wider implementation across the state.
National and International Recognition
Neeru Yadav has represented India and rural grassroots leadership on several national and international platforms, including being invited as a Celebrity Guest on Kaun Banega Crorepati (Season 15), representing India at the 57th Session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, being invited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a Special Guest to the 78th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort on 15 August 2024, and representing India as a Grassroots Leader at the BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting in Kochi, Kerala, on 8–9 July 2026, where she participated in discussions on women's leadership, rural governance, and sustainable development.
Social Initiatives
Neeru Yadav has focused on translating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into practical village-level action through community participation, including work on women's leadership and economic empowerment, environmental conservation, climate action, sustainable agriculture, quality education, girl child empowerment, plastic-free village campaigns, biodiversity conservation, and rural innovation.
Aditri Foundation
Neeru Yadav is the Founder of Aditri Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting grassroots innovation and accelerating the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through community-led initiatives across rural India.
Sachchi Saheli Mahila Agro Producer Company Limited (FPO)
Neeru Yadav serves as the Founder Director of Sachchi Saheli Mahila Agro Producer Company Limited (FPO), a women-led Farmer Producer Organization established to strengthen the economic empowerment of women farmers in her Gram Panchayat. The initiative aims to increase farmers' income by enabling direct market linkages between producers and companies, thereby reducing the role of intermediaries.
The FPO facilitates access to high-quality seeds, promotes improved agricultural practices, and helps farmers obtain better prices for their produce through collective marketing and value-chain integration. By organizing women farmers into a producer-owned enterprise, the initiative supports sustainable agriculture, enhances rural livelihoods, and contributes to women's economic leadership at the grassroots level.