Decades ago, Haryana was a state being known for stark reality especially for having the worst female sex ratios in the country. A legacy of patriarchal traditions, son preference, and female foeticide had pushed the state’s sex ratio at birth (SRB) to a low of 834 girls per 1,000 boys in 2001.

For decades, the name Dantewada in Chhattisgarh was synonymous with the grim reality of Maoist insurgency. This district, nestled deep in the Bastar region, is often painted a picture of fear, underdevelopment, and limited opportunities.