CG’s 61-Year-Old Damyanti Soni set to attend Expo in Japan

Raipur | Correspondent: Chhattisgarh’s 61-year-old woman, Damyanti Soni, recently received financial assistance from the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnudeo Sai during one of the Jan darshan events.

Soni, resident from a small village Khairjhiti in Rajnandgaon, overcame her fears after her husband’s death and now single-handedly operates a heavy backhoe loader of JCB.

Recently during one of the Jan darshan events, she reached out for financial support to the CM as she has been invited for an expo to Japan.

To which Sai has assured her saying, “Pack your bags, and the government will make all the arrangements for you. Go to Japan and make Chhattisgarh proud.”

Three years ago, she was invited to an expo in Japan, but due to the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, she couldn’t attend. Now, she has received another invitation to the expo in Japan.

Soni, who completed her education up to 11th grade in Gujarati medium, was married to Uttam Soni, a JCB driver. After his death in 2012, the entire burden of responsibility fell on Damyanti.

In a desperate situation with no other options, she quickly adapted to take charge of the family.

She shares that she first operated the latest model of Tata Hitachi Company’s backhoe loader, a story that was highlighted at the South Asia Construction Equipment Expo.

Since then, she has never looked back, now operating heavy machinery with the ease that most people use to drive a two-wheeler. Damyanti is the first woman in Chhattisgarh to drive a backhoe loader and she aspires to continue doing so until the age of 65.

Sai further commended her, stating that she is a role model for women in the state and encouraged her to continue motivating and inspiring others.