A ROLE MODEL WOMAN
65 years old, Geeta Devi Kafle of "Janaklyan Women's Group", Mahottari district gave up the long held caste discrimination practice.
She has been a role model of the Khayarmara VDC of Mahottari district. Now she eats what so-called Dalit (Untouchable) people give her. She allows Dalits in her home. The women's group participated in the Cornerstones training and changed their philosophy toward the age-old caste discrimination practice.
In Nepali phenomenon the society is divided into caste groups with hierarchy. Those of the so-called higher caste (Brahmin, Chhetrri) discriminate against the lower caste (Dalits). The level of discrimination is inhumane to the effect that Dalits are considered untouchable and ostracized from the society.
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Success Stories
Pachiya Devi Shah
Building a future
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Pachiya Devi Shah, an inhabitant of Thathoria of Muhammadpur village of Rautahat district spent her childhood collecting firewood, herding cattle and looking after children. Looking at her friends go to school, the desire to study used to build up inside her. But her desire was not to last, as at the age of 12, her parents arranged her marriage with Jimdar Shah of Thathiria-2 of Makwanpur.
When she got married, her husband's family was in heavy debt which they used to pay by selling their lands. Meanwhile, in 1989 Pachiya Devi gave birth to a baby girl. After six months of her baby's birth, she and her husband started living separately on a small piece of land given by the parents. Her husband used to work in landlord's fields on daily wage. Sometimes, they bought sugar beat instead of rice as they did not have enough money for food. She reminisces that if her husband did not go to field for work even for a day, they could not manage food for that day. She still remembers the days when she was unable to serve food to her family.
She used to blame her fate for her situation. The land they owned produced 80 kilos of rice and 40 kilos of lintel on a year, from which they had to manage food, medicine and other household expenses. The villagers nearby used to mock their poverty. Sometimes, Pachiya Devi and her husband used to have nasty quarrels with neighbors.
By 2001 Pachiya Devi had given birth to three daughters and three sons. With too many mouths to fill and too low income, Pachiya Devi and her husband could not afford to send their children to school. They were forced to make their children work for whatever little money they could bring in to the house. Their children became malnourished and prone to various diseases. Meanwhile, in 2005, Pachiya Devi was informed about the Saraswoti Women Group formed in Muhammadpur. Despite her husband's objection, Pachiya Devi joined the group. She started to deposit some amount from her earnings in their saving scheme. After knowing the benefit of the group, her husband started supporting her for active participation in group's activities. Pachiya Devi started participating in various trainings like cornerstone, group management, animal management and gender. After the cornerstone training Pachiya Devi gave up quarreling and started respecting others. She started sharing knowledge learned from the group to other members and neighbors.
After participating in the trainings, she started involving herself in different economic activities. She earned Rs. 3,000 ($ 46) from onion seed production. She produced vegetables in her small patch of land and sold it in the nearby market. In 2006 Heifer supported her Rs. 25,000 ($ 385) to buy a buffalo through PRAN a local NGO and Heifer’s partner. Before this she had already participated in the Improved Animal Management training and knew how to protect her buffalo from mosquitoes and other insects using nets.
With the income received from the buffalo she was able to pass on the gift of Rs. 25,000 ($ 385) to buy buffalo to a needy woman in her group. "We consider this buffalo as one of our family members and treat it accordingly," said Pachiya Devi and her husband. They earned 15,000 rupees ($ 230) within three months by selling milk. The buffalo increased her income as she earned Rs. 75,000 ($ 1154) from buffalo farming. Pachiya Devi paid back Rs. 11,000 ($ 169) loan to landlord. They do not have any debt now. She is now able to meet their daily necessities and send her four children to a good school with regular tuition. Today, Pachiya is satisfied with her life. Pachiya does not blame her fate anymore. She has learned that she has the power to build her own fate.
District Forestry Office also supported her in bee keeping which provided her an extra income. Pachiya Devi's efforts are admired by the groups and villagers. Pachiya Devi and her husband said "Happiness and joy are the gifts received from Heifer and PRAN in our life and we express our sincere thanks to them. We plan to fix our daughter's marriage in the next three years and buy farm land."
Written in 1 July 2007
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