Stories of women whose health and economy have improved

Stories of women whose health and economy have improved

 

Kabita Budha is a 50-year-old woman from Japnagaon, Ward No. 5 of Patarasi Rural Municipality. She is an illiterate woman. Her husband Khar Bahadur Budha is a farmer. She was married at the age of 15. She is illiterate, could not write even her own name. She has a family of 5 members; 3 women and 2 men. Her husband is 53 years old. Her sons and daughters study in the government school. They have been adopting farming for livelihood. The produce from their agriculture provides food for their family only for 3-4 months. They start farming from May and the main crops are corn, beans, potato and millet. It is difficult to provide food throughout

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The Kabita Budha during checkup in SRH Camp

12 months of the year. So they are compelled to work for the wage in others’ field for the rest of the month.

Before the start of the project, her economic condition was very weak. During January 2022, she came to know Social Mobilizer Fulmaya Budha and volunteer Jayalakshmi Budha that crops such as corn, millet, potato and beans can be sold after joining the women’s empowerment project by Sarbodaya Nepal Jumla.

She attended the women’s meetings twice a month, participated in discussions related to women’s empowerment, women’s workload reduction, domestic share, women’s share, child marriage reduction etc. She became aware of her rights and duties. A women’s group was formed in January 2022 in Patarashi Rural Municipality under the leadership of Sarbodaya Nepal Jumla. Kabita is an active member of this group. She has been involved in the greenhouse support program that is health and information-related. She has been able to raise her income through sales of cash crops and active participation in the group. After the increase in her income, it has become a lot easier for her to send the children to school.

 

She attends the meetings regularly and is updated with health and health-related information resulting in her health condition is good. She used to have a regular health checkup. Unlike her contemporary colleagues, she was not affected by uterus infection and other health issues. Further, she has developed a habit of open discussion in public and keeps her views, she does not tolerate any form of injustice and torture. Her life has changed drastically along with her neighbourhood. Even other members of her family have learned to speak up for rights and justice.

Kabita thanked the Italian Foundation and Sarbodaya Nepal Jumla along with the Social Mobilizer Rebecca Sunar who contributed to make her and her family comfortable.