Kanchanpur, October 29

Lifestyle of Dalit women of Jhalari Pipaladi municipality-10 in Kanchanpur district have undergone a change, as they are becoming more aware of their rights.

The women, who were earlier confined to their household chores, have started coming out in public seeking their identity and rights, thanks to various programmes being run in the district for the rights of Dalit women.

The women’s association with the Ghatal Freed Haliya Group, a local organisation established four years ago for the welfare of freed Haliyas (bonded labourers), has also helped them in this regard.

Dewa Damai, of Jhalari Pipaladi Municipality, earlier had no time for anything except household chores. But she is currently working as a social worker and is relentlessly engaged in making other women aware of their rights.

“Earlier, I could not speak in public. But now that I am aware of women’s rights, I am advocating for the rights of other women like me,” she said.

Women of the village are also engaged in development works like installation of drinking water pipes, construction of roads and distribution of scholarships, among others.

“We are also approaching the municipality office seeking government facilities and services that we are entitled to as women,” said local resident Janaki Damai.

She said donor agencies visiting the villages with various projects had started responding to them positively.

“We used to work for our landlords in the past. With various awareness campaigns, we’ve become aware and independent,” said Manu Devi Damai. She also said their former landlords did not have any enmity towards them at present.

The local women here are also engaged in income-generating businesses with the help of the Ghatal Freed Haliya Group, thus raising their living standards. The group has also been holding informal classes to teach other backward women about their rights.

The enterprising group has set up a fund where local women save their earnings. And in return, they have opened up various business ventures like tailoring and shops with loan from the fund at nominal interest rate.