Mitra has answers for their questions but is reluctant to talk about her past. “Please do not ask me about my background because it does not matter. So what if I studied abroad or worked in London. I am here serving my people. Why don’t you join us? I had a professional life abroad but I always wanted to do this. So I approached the Congress and now I am happy to be a part of this programme,” she said.

Mitra studied in Kolkata and later studied economics and mathematics in the US—at Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachusetts. She went on to become a vice president at JP Morgan in London and joined the Congress last year.

“Last year I got a call from some leaders in Delhi saying that Mahua was interested in working in rural areas. Her resume was impressive and the party needed educated young people like her and she was inducted as a volunteer under the Aam Aadmi Ka Sipahi (AAKS) scheme,” said Amitava Chakraborty, state youth Congress president

Since then Mitra has been travelling extensively in the state, educating villagers on various schemes and training other AAKS members in each panchayat.

“I start my day early. During the day I meet mostly women, since the men are in the fields. In the evening, I meet the men. After telling them what their rights are and what are the government schemes they can avail of, I choose some volunteers for follow-ups. I also gather facts on how the schemes are being implemented and then send those reports to the Congress high command,” said Mitra, who is in her thirties .

... contd.