Himalayan News Service

Bara, April 14:

Fifty-five year-old Champa Chamin, who was once accused of practising witchcraft, is now associated with the People’s Awareness Campaign (PAC) run by Bara Dalit Awareness Campaign in Khopuwa VDC-2 for the last two months. PAC is organising awareness programmes in Khopwa, Umjan, Pathra, Pipra Basantapur and Gadhal VDCs of Bara district. “Earlier I used to serve villagers as a midwife and now I am a social worker,” said Champa.

Two years ago Umesh Shah and his family accused Champa of being a witch and made her pay Rs 2000 as fine. “We would have been discarded by the society if we hadn’t paid the fine,” said Dev Dhari Ram, Champa’s husband. Now Champa is very happy and is committed to eliminate social injustice prevailing in the society. Nima Singh, programme officer of PAC, is satisfied with Champa’s work. “The role of women like Champa is very crucial in eradicating social ills,” she said.