From thousands of years ago, the land of the republic looks alive as democracy, especially female power in Bihar. Women are organized for votes and also run homes. In most cases, caste, religion or place does not matter much for them. He is an example of participation in democracy. Whether the government or the state system is missing. Rashmi Chaudhary sits at the forefront of every panchayat meeting in Nadi village near Darbhanga city. Her husband Naushad cooperates in her work, who was once an activist of the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi. Rashmi has won as a sarpanch from a seat reserved for Scheduled Castes. She says, “The public wanted a person who could do their work.”
They do not have the support of any party nor money. Nevertheless, his emphasis is on road, water and education reform. She tells people, “If everyone walks together, a lot can change. If we become one, then the situation can be better. ”
She goes to meetings, acts on complaints and tries to solve the problems of schools and get the work approved under MNREGA. She was asked what kind of politics she believed in, her answer was, “not in unity, not in caste or religion. It did not do anything good for us? ”
Gonoun Panchayat Reshma Ara of Darbhanga was elected the head four years ago. On winning, the hesitance of women to speak was broken. She says, “I am educated. People listen to me, believe in me.” People there say, they listen to everyone and work.
Anamika Jha, a researcher from Bihar, says that outsiders cannot feel the change here. She says, “There are signs of change that women in Bihar have entered the political field. There is a whole generation that has seen this change. ”This sense of possibility appears in different forms. Reema Kumari of the conservative Hindu family is a relatively a large village in Darbhanga in Pahddi Bela. However, she barely plays her role as an elected representative as her husband and brother -in -law handle all the work. Rarely she is able to speak her point. Right now they are yet to learn the exercise of their rights. She is able to say that much, “If I get permission, I would like to contest again.”
Kamayani Jha, who launched an organization called Jan Jagran Shakti Samiti in Araria, says, many women who have stepped into public life have to pay the price. Of the houses where women go to work as ASHA or Anganwadi worker, girls are often expelled from school and sent for household work. She says, “This is a kind of agreement. Change is happening, but it has many levels. ”
Guchia Devi of Pahdi Bela village in Darbhanga district wakes up early in the morning to cook 250 school children. She is a widow of backward caste. They get Rs 1650 every month. However, it is often paid in two-three months. Their shabby house is collapsing, eyes have become weak and the body is becoming agrarian. She says, “If you get at least eighteen thousand wages, then some work should be done.” They are not alone to live such a life.
Guchia’s neighbor Amla Devi is also a Dalit of the Mushar community. She wakes up at four in the morning to settle the housework. She then goes to cook in the school kitchen. Her husband goes out for work. He says, “Whether we get less wages, just we get the life of honor.”
Bhullar Devi and Putul Devi are also such women who live their lives. Both walks of vegetables carry on foot. They do not get any remuneration or salary. Still she considers herself a ‘government’ employee as she cooks in government schools. Both do this work because there is dignity in this post. The cook makes respect. This is a big reason that he likes this work despite low salary in cook work.
Another cook, Geeta Devi every day struggles with soot and smoke in the kitchen. Despite the difficult situations of work, he does not want to quit his job. When asked that if her husband, who works in Kolkata most of the time, gives them the right money every month, will she leave the job? Without losing a single moment, she replies, “I will continue to work because when there is a summer holiday in school, she does not have to ask for money from her husband except for those two months.” She does not want to leave the job for one more reason, because she has heard that the government is under pressure to increase the earnings of those people. He is expected to get strong assurance in this matter before the assembly elections.
Waiting for work
Rehabilitation Mushar Tola of Farbisganj, Mussahar Tola, Rishidev Naya Tola, all houses their houses, because there is a huge shortage of brick and cement here. Old and almost blind Joganand Das still takes care of the fields of others. His youth has passed in Kashmir, Punjab and Haryana doing farming and wages.
Ranjana has a different concern. Aadhaar cards have not come yet, due to this their children are not able to go to school. Her husband works as a kingdom in Punjab. In response to the question of getting work under MNREGA, she says, “I have not got any work under MNREGA for two years.” Surendra, who lives there, has taken a loan of Rs 10,000 to repay the loan. Mukesh’s family is also in debt. Shiva Nandan says, “People here have seen all the party voted.”
Politics is necessary here and meaningless. Still no one forgets to vote. Even after voting, no one expects much. Here hope is available here along with 100 days of work, proper wages, houses, electricity, government promises of papers, additional earnings for women, loans, lack of land and caste high and low. In some homes, people are fled for not repaying the loan of private borrowers. At the same time, many women like Manju say, “Even if I have to sell all the rice in the house and stay hungry, I will pay the loan, whatever happens.”
“No child from our sage tola go to school. They usually do not have Aadhaar card, birth certificate or other documents. The bribe sought to get any documents is out of our reach.”
The story of women voters of Bihar is not new. Despite disappointment, many people in Naya Tola still say, “Modi is doing well.” Shiva Nandan Bubbling, “Bhakti, worship is happening.” Other people are in more dilemma. A man says, “BJP people lie.” Their vote depends not on the ideology, but on the promises of memories, trust and perceived works. He used to vote for Congress earlier, now BJP. But if the Congress comes again, they say that they will also vote for it.
State plans are often called by old names. The name of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana is Indira Awas for many people. A woman angrily says, “Those whose husbands earn Rs 30,000 a month can live.” We are unable to earn even 4,000 rupees here. ”They have four daughters. She further says, “Has been in nasal.” She has also heard about a plan called Chhath Vrati, but says that her daughters are not getting it. (This is probably reference to Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana).
Imaginative women
A different kind of silent revolution is going on near the boundary of Araria and Purnia at a distance of one hour from Naya Tola. It is being led by boys and girls. The 18-year-old Zubaida in Rampur Kodarkatti village is the co-operator of the JJSS Youth Club established in 2022. She studies economics and art at Araria Millia College and remain active in the village. She runs a club for about 15 to 25 children with her neighbor Adil and other volunteers. They come to read, play, prepare for school.
This is an ordinary club. Carrom board, some books, a football, sometimes cricket. Most of the children are below class 7. Elder girls leave studies when they arrive in adolescence, often due to parents’ pressure, who consider going to school as insecure.
Why does Zubaida keep doing this work? She says softly, “Studying, playing, understanding … something will change.” She knows her limits. This club runs without any government help. The politics of this region is also different from the new Tola. There is the emphasis of RJD and Congress here and there is no significant change in it.
This area is a center for migration to other states for wages. This means that only women, children and elderly live in many homes. Therefore, women often take everyday decisions.
But the party line is more unclear than the family line. This ambiguity reaches down. Voters are confused about who is with them and who comes only during voting. Muslims are concerned about increasing polarization. Nevertheless, their tendency of participation does not die. Whether it is voting or volunteer.
Shahnaz Khatoon, who lives in Delhi with her husband and mother-in-law, has come to meet his family. She says that she liked to do a small job, but her family did not accept this. But when she thought it would be easy to run a family, her husband agreed. Zubaida’s studies up to matriculation make him different from others.
But Shahnaz’s distant relatives, 44 -year -old Mohammad Armaan, look at it from a different perspective. They work as a plumber in tall buildings in Delhi and Noida. They have a huge debt of Rs 60,000, which they have to pay in 24 installments of Rs 3,200. Their monthly income is around Rs 15,000, causing him and his wife who lives in Rampur Kodarkatti, Araria. What will happen in the house, all of them decide the same, such as where, when, when and what work can be done. He tells his wife everything on the phone from Delhi.
There is no confusion in the election
The villages of Araria, Farbisganj and Darbhanga districts have different stories, but are basically the same. Government promises of school scholarship, 100 days MNREGA work, Aadhaar card, respectable housing, proper wages remain incomplete. Many people have taken loans from private borrowers; Many children are unable to go to school due to lack of papers or money. Nevertheless, he has faith in democracy.
After all, the story of women voters, sarpanches and cooks, migrants of Bihar is not the only story. These women are not waiting for any savior. She is working, running, doing something and watching. Voting for them is not a responsibility, it is a deal of hope and profit.
