Rangalata Mohanta, Vice President of Jamunaposi Panchayat in Keonjhar district, Odisha, India, is no stranger to the notion of challenging the status quo. When the women of her village forcefully shut the Anganwadi, a creche centre essential to the running of the village, after one of the workers contracted HIV/AIDS, Rangalata set about to disband the stigma that was creating fear among the community.

Using her own training and the assistance of government health workers, Rangalata educated the local women about HIV/AIDs, replacing their preconceptions with greater understanding and knowledge. Subsequently, she managed to successfully reopen the centre - giving the village back its heart.

It takes great courage and empathy to stand up to discrimination and advocate on behalf of those who are marginalised by society. Rangalata continues to do just that by challenging the caste system, so firmly ingrained into India’s culture, and instead encouraging the belief that everyone is deserving of dignity and equal rights.