Sanjeev Satgainya

Kathmandu:

Small things in life taste sweet in later years,” says Durga Ghimire, chairperson, ABC Nepal. ABC Nepal was established in 1987 and is a pioneering organisation working against women trafficking, education and women empowerment.

Born in Dharan and brought up in an affluent family in Biratnagar, Durga Ghimire spent her childhood observing political personalities and their activities. “Most of my family members were involved in politics and hence politics got indoctrinated in early childhood.” She completed her school education from Adarsh Girls’ School,

Biratnagar. “Apart from formal education, we were incessantly taught about social consciousness, significance of education and most importantly, personalities like Sushma Koirala, Sadhana Adhikari, Shanta Ghimire profoundly impressed me during my school years and I was

also interested in social work and politics.”

Working against trafficking of women appeared as an option one day in 1979 when she came to know about one small girl rescued from Delhi. “She was sold by her own father for Rs 10,000. This incident saddened me and I was determined to do something against this.”

Ghimire still remembers the days of 1987 when she started ABC Nepal with Rs 3,000. “I can’t explain how difficult it was at that time. I had just Rs 3,000 and social barriers were always there. The social awareness was not like that of today and being a woman from a Brahmin family, what I was doing irked many. My interaction with pimps and those girls who were rescued from India always put my prestige and credibility at stake.”

But Durga never lost her determination. “The best thing my parents, being not much literate (my mother learnt to read and write after marriage, my father had studied up to seven class only), did was, they made me complete my formal education. But when I came to Kathmandu for my MA, a strict condition was posed that I would not be involved in politics.” Those who were opposing the then government (Panchayat system) found their place behind the bars. “I landed in jail thrice and the first time police’s lathis rained on me, my determination become stronger.”

She was a member when Nepal Students’ Union was formed and was elected the treasurer of the first board.

“After restoration of Democracy when I raised the issue at governmental level, I was not encouraged much. People even asked why was I touching such sensitive issues. But society has changed a lot now.”

She still remembers the days when she had to visit rural areas. “I didn’t have enough money. I had to travel standing among cattle in a lorry to reach some remote areas.”

Despite being born and then married to an affluent family, Ghimire always wanted to be a part of lives of people at grass-root level. “Our society needs a drastic reform and this revolution can’t be brought without reaching out to these people. That’s why I formed ABC standing for agro-forestry, basic education and co-operatives.” Ghimire is determined to reach up to Z.

Does she aspire to be a politician? “Sounds very glamorous but I am satisfied with my own social work.”

The three things that she started with have got a better shape now. There are more than 5,000 women working in co-operatives. Many women have become economically empowered through skill-development trainings run by ABC Nepal. Women have learnt to walk equalling men in different sectors. “It gives pleasure and satisfaction but still I need to do a lot,” Ghimire foresees a much better society.

These days Ghimire has no time. She is involved in a number of organisations and has to attend, coordinate and handle many things in one day. “It is tiring but it makes me content.”

Economic empowerment, political empowerment, community health, education, co-operatives, etc, are her focal points. A human rights activist, Ghimire, was awarded with Resourceful Woman Award in 1994.

Leading a happy life with her husband and two children, Ghimire passionately says, “I am one of the most fortunate women to have a family like this. There was never ever any hindrance from my husband. Yes, there were times when my children would say that I didn’t have time for them. But they always took my words. I used to say there were other children too in the country to be taken care of. Today I feel proud and glad as well when I see those children who were once deprived of education and basic needs working at high profile jobs.”

“I still sell beads, masyora (a dried edible made of black gram), bed sheets. No one should hesitate to work and earn. These are the earnings made with pride. And when women are economically empowered, their family becomes strong.”

Ghimire is also regional coordinator of South Asia Region Political Empowerment. “Bringing women to the forefront and in the mainstream is my dream. I want a society where both genders are treated equally. Women too have the right to enjoy the basics of life by birth,” says Ghimire, a die-hard pro-property bill activist.