गौरवान्वित म!
Tetri Khatun is a resident of Brahamsthan, Yamunamai Rural Municipality since she married Madan Ray Rajbhatt. She married Madan 21 years ago when she was just 16 years. They have five children, 3 son and 2 daughters. Tetri and her husband, both are illiterate, work as wage worker in others agricultural farm and earn Rs 7000 per month which is the only source of income in their family. Although, Tetri is working and earning money, she was not able to do any financial transaction until few months ago. Her husband never believed that she could do monetary transaction. So, Tetri used to give all her money to her husband and she had to ask her husband every month in order to save Rs 50 in their vegetable group.
In May 2019, Tetri participated in the 7 days Gender Action Learning System (GALS) Catalyst workshop as an representative from Brahamastan Women Farmers Group, along with other 4 members. Upon returning from the workshop, something new happened in her life. She asked money with her husband for shopping in the nearby market. Her husband denied and said she will be cheated by the shopkeepers as she cannot do the calculation. But she persisted and her husband gave her Rs 200 for grocery shopping. For the first time in 37 years, Tetri went to do shopping in the weekly market with Rs 200. She brought potato and onion which cost Rs 40, eggplant of Rs 40, cooking oil and kerosene oil for Rs 40. When she reached home, she did the calculation and returned remaining Rs 80 to her husband. Tetri had twinkle in her eyes when she shared this incident. When asked about her husband’s reaction with her first shopping experience. She replies, “My husband smiled and said my calculation was correct. He even said that I brought the necessary item and also saved some amount which was not the case when he goes to the market.” Tetri proudly told that her husband trusts her with the money and now she is doing the grocery shopping for her family.
Tetri and Madan have no physical property. They live in a small hut in a public land. She has made vision for next three years to earn money rearing goat. She had bought two goats from the money saved from wage earned. These two goats were the only property she bought from her saving. Her elder son is a school drop-out and is living on his own. Her younger daughter studies in grade 4 in school. Her younger son though admitted in school, did not continue. However, after the workshop, she wanted her children to be educated so she readmitted the younger son in grade one. The younger son is not keen on going to school but she sends him forcefully. She also admitted elder daughter in neighboring Madrasa.
Tetri says, in the seven-day workshop, she did not learn much due to language barrier but she clearly got the message about expanding income and saving for the bright future using the pictoral tools. She could do the financial transaction with the money that Madan had brought from Punjab IN Rs. 30,000/. They spend the money to build base level in their house to protect from monsoon flood. They have also grown eggplant by taking lease in 2 kattha land. They plan to increase their vegetable farm from next season. Tetri now dreams to have a small piece of land and a house in her name.
