Livelihood is critical to combating poverty, especially for rural women. Situation only turns bad for women when they are not educated. Dalima Kumari lives with her family in a small village in Bihar, since childhood her locomotor disability has restricted the free movement.
Dalima grew up as an ambitious girl, wanted to fly high and make a career. Her disability was not the only hurdle to cross; being a, girl sometimes have its own challenges. When she wanted to complete the studies, she was burdened with the household work. When she wanted to go out to find a suitable job, she was shown the door of a happy married life. Not only to her parents but also to the society this was not acceptable. In rural areas people do still not approve a girl earning living for the family.
Her destiny had something else planned for her, one day she run into a workshop, organized by DEF. Hearing beneficiaries speaking on how their life changed, with the support of the Samarth SoochnaPreneur program, she volunteered for the program.
Gone are the days when she was confined in the house, today she is running an information center and helping people in accessing to their rights and entitlements. Now she is vocal about girls coming out, being equally educated and earn a livelihood. The resistance to her thoughts is still there but the intensity is quite low.
Availability of these services hasn’t only offered convenience to people in the locality, it has also helped in creating opportunities. Dalima’s new income source is helping to financial support her family and to continue her higher education as well.
In her own words “If even one woman can take the lead, the others soon follow. I thank the Samarth SoochnaPreneur Program and the training I received under the project which has lead to this transformation.”
