Daughter of Sattari takes flight to America

Pankti Dattatray Jog, a daughter of Sonal village in Sattari taluka of Goa, has been working for the past 25 years as the coordinator of Janpath, a prominent social organisation based in Gujarat. She also heads the National Right to Information Forum and serves as the president of the Right to Information Gujarat Pahel organisation.

For 20 years, she has also been serving as the secretary of the Agariya Hitrakshak Manch, an organisation working for the welfare of the traditional salt-producing Agariya community. Her work for the rehabilitation of tribal and Agariya communities in the Rann of Kutch has gained recognition across the country and internationally.

This accomplished Goan social worker will now embark on her second lecture tour of the United States, beginning September 27. The tour has been organised by AID (Association for India) and several other organisations working in the social sector in the US.

Pankti Jog is scheduled to deliver lectures at around 20 locations across the United States, including New Jersey, Washington DC, Ohio, Texas (Dallas and Houston) and Florida.

Through these lectures, American citizens and volunteers will learn about the ground realities and challenges faced by rural, tribal and Agariya communities in India, community-based solutions being implemented for them, coordination with government agencies, and efforts to help people access their rights.

She will also speak about the impact of the Right to Information Act, 2005, and how citizens in India have benefited from its use.

This marks Jog’s second visit to the United States in her role as a speaker and mentor in the field of social service. Social workers and organisations from Gujarat and across India have congratulated the daughter of Sattari for this recognition and achievement.