Towards A Dream To Live Independently

In the land of the Oraon tribe, where the aspirations of women are barely directed to the light of the day, Sumanti Rao stands as the only woman with a graduation degree. Her day of graduation was perhaps the happiest day in the lives of her parents. Sumanti was ambitious to pursue a career in the professional space. Her inflating dreams were ready to make her go for the moon and all it needed was the right sky. Yet, how far would you go in a bottled-up space? The vices in the orthodox beliefs of the village forced her to head towards marriage first and then think about fulfilling her dreams.

Reluctant yet helpless, Sumanti gave into marriage. Her dreams were succumbing to untimely death. The last nail was beaten into the coffin when Sumanti’s husband and in-laws declined her request to appear at government exams. “Either stay in the marriage or go for your dreams”. The patriarchal space was non-supportive of Sumanti’s ambitions. Her husband migrated to Gujurat for 8 months each year to earn for the family. Working in a seed preservation factory, Sumanti’s husband, however, was incapable of earning enough for their rising needs. Sumanti was blessed with two daughters in whom her dead dreams saw the hope for a revival. Educating them was her priority. Owing to the scarcity, Sumanti decided to engage in a side hustle at their farmland and earn for her daughters.

The scope for agriculture in her humble village within Gumla District of Jharkhand was limited. The lack of water resources further complicated the farming practices. Over a minimal stretch of 2 acres, Sumanti cultivated local vegetables to ensure the food security of her farming. The farmers in the village had to travel to Ghagra every time to buy seeds, pesticides and other farm requirements. Lack of livelihood was undoubtedly a huge concern. Life continued along a margin haunted by the intrusion of scarcity until the COVID-19 pandemic arrived to wreak unseen havoc.

Sumanti’s daughters were out of school while her husband was out of job. No vehicle could cross the borders of the village to buy the seeds and manure for farming. The unprecedented lockdown diminished the glow of life in the village. During these trying times, Sumanti came across CASA. Under the COVID-19 livelihood support program, Sumanti received the seeds for tomato, brinjal, chillies and other local vegetables which she sowed on her farm for food security. As sustenance was finding a balance, Sumanti learned about CASA’s facilitation of a women self-help group to empower the marginalised women of the Oraon community. Having suffered the tribulations of the patriarchal space and having witnessed the bitter death of her vibrant dreams, Sumanti could understand the importance of joining women-led and women-centric groups.

As the only graduate in her community, Sumanti soon stepped into heading the Self-help group and raising awareness on women empowerment. As a few cases began to get reported in the village, the women’s group initiated timely action. Sumanti and the other women in the group got the first dose of the vaccine and communicated its benefits to their families, neighbours and peers. Their first step forward was encouragement and exemplar for other communities to give up vaccine hesitancy. Awareness of COVID-19 precautionary measures and necessary protocols were raised among the villagers through various means running from COVID-19 workshops, barefoot health worker training, seminars, banners and discussions. In association with CASA, the women’s group also engaged in several programs that sensitised masses on the available government assistance for livelihood security through the pandemic.

Sumanti mentions, “We have received sufficient help from CASA during the COVID-19 lockdown. From help with eliminating vaccine hesitancy to agriculture-related support by seed distribution and WASH kits, the contributions of CASA in alleviating our hardships have been immense. I am hopeful that in the coming days, our association will be able to improve the life, perspective and existence of not only women but also the marginalised individuals within the community. I can never thank CASA enough for having ignited and reignited the spirit of empowerment and self-sufficiency in several women like me. I’ll ensure that I conduct this empowerment to my daughters and other young girls in my village.” As a capable leader with tremendous potential, Sumanti continues to battle the undermining and patriarchal approach of the community. She is on a mission to assist the women in her village and the surrounding areas in finding liberation from the gender-disparity equation.