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‘School’ for adults boon for womenfolk in Dang

DANG, JAN 13 -
Tulasi BK, 47, of Baghmare VDC-2 in Dang district never thought of pursuing education and used to spend all her time in household work. That was until some years ago.

However, time has changed her perception as she has enrolled in a class initiated by a local women’s group for imparting informal education to adults in the village. These days, she attends the class where 25 other women like her also learn to read and write in the afternoon.

The class is paying off well as most of the women, who earlier used to request their neighbours to read out letters sent by their husbands, are now able to write to their husbands and handle the household responsibilities on their own.

“Earlier, I used to face problems handling the household responsibilities as I was illiterate, but things are easier after I learnt to read and write,” said BK, whose husband works in India.

“I manage time for the classes after finishing my household chores,” said Kishori Rokka, a mother of two children. She said she used to feel sad when she could not write to her husband in Malaysia in the past. “However, now I can do it on my own,” she added.

Laxmi Dangi, a local woman, said some villagers even mocked them for attending classes at such an age. “But, we have been able to change their attitude and they are very supportive of us now,” she said.

“I have understood the importance of education though I did not have an opportunity to study in my childhood,” she said, adding that she has also been able to support her children with their homework now.

Bhim Bishwokarma, who advocates for women education, said 374 elderly women from Purandhara, Panchakule, Baghmara and Pabannagar VDCs are attending the classes.

Posted on: 2012-01-14 09:41

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