Emboldened by the financial independence offered by self-help groups, women in rural Odisha are increasingly becoming a force politicians have to reckon withBasanti Sabar, 30, is a third-time voter. But this time round, as the eastern Indian state of Odisha goes to the polls in simultaneous general and assembly elections, the former migrant worker will make a crucial shift in the way she votes.In patriarchal rural India, who the family vote for is usually decided by the men. On 13 May, however,... Read this story
