Padma is a member of our Sangha who lives in a small hut with her two daughters. Her husband passed away 15 years ago. Padma makes Beedis (a type of cigarette) in order to earn a living. She also works as an agricultural laborer. Her elder daughter’s name is Shalini who studied in her own village until Class X. After her Intermediate (10+2) education, she fell in love with a boy and eloped with him. Padma brought this matter up with the President of the Sangha. Sangha women discuss this matter and agreed to keep it confidential. Shalini’s uncle and relatives searched extensively for her everywhere before finally finding and bringing her home. Padma was quite terrified and refused to let her daughter out of her sight, taking her along wherever she went. Our CRPs spoke to Padma, during a Sangha Meeting, to send Shalini to a college as she had passed her Intermediate exam. But Padma refused out of fear. The CRPs persisted in their efforts to counsel Padma to send Shalini to college. They also advised Shalini to study further and not to think of love at this age. They then brought Shalini for Gender, Sexuality and Life Skills Training. Recently, both mother and daughter attended the Inter-Generational Dialogue at Husnabad Federation office.
Eventually, Shalini’s mother consented to send her to a Degree College. Shalini has also become a lot more confident and mature about herself and her future. Padma is able to trust her and has given her the freedom to go to the Degree College on her own.
Nearly, 100 Sangha women have taken up Collective Farming, Sheep-rearing, Vegetable cultivation, Vegetable selling. The Federation has its own office building.