“Humko sanskritik karykram me bahut man lagta hai” (I enjoy the cultural programmes too much). Prabhati is a 50-year-old woman with an inclination towards music and cultural programme, which has made her stand out in a crowd. She can compose songs on any issue like education, alcohol addiction, violence, village women, etc., instantly and sing with a melodious voice. Today she is a well-known name in the community and works as an ASHA worker with the Health Department. But her journey has been full of turbulence and struggle.
She was told by her paternal uncle that she was born in 1972 during the great famine. She had just entered the eighth standard when she was married off to Manoj who himself was studying in intermediate. Manoj and Prabhati both belonged to families who owned land assets. But over a period of time, her husband started selling off everything. “Ghar ka bartan yaha tak ki mera kapda bhi bech diye” (cooking utensils and even my clothes were sold). After one year of marriage, she gave birth to her first child, but there was no food to eat and no work. Prabhati decided to come out of her home in search of work. She did several jobs to survive including vegetable selling, and daily wage labour. The family once in the possession of 4.5 bighas of land became landless. She found out that her husband had been addicted to eating soil and his body has got infected and he succumbed to death. Instead of getting lost in darkness Prabhati collected her strength and decided to fight back for life and moving forward.
She came to know that ASHA workers were going to be selected for her area she applied for the job. Prabhati had established herself as a responsible social worker. So despite corruption and biases, she got support and encouragement from the community to be selected as an ASHA worker. Finally, the Mukhiya of the area confirmed his candidature and supported her to join as an ASHA worker. Though she cannot read English properly, due to her regular training, she has been able to memorise all the vaccination dosages given at health centres. She goes from house to houses and informs pregnant, lactating women about the medicines and vaccines.
She says that she apart from financial sustainability, the federation had taught her a lot. “The federation taught me the real meaning of life. Bas itna hi afsos raha ki agar English aur ache se aata to jyada badhiya kaam kar pati (the only regret is that if I knew English better I would have done better work)”. Today Prabhati has no complaints and lives in a pucca house where her children who are educated and well settled.