There’s an air of satisfaction as she shares her story, and I can’t help but revel in it with her.
Shabnam Didi transitioned to being a permanent staff member from a daily wage weaver about 6 months ago. Before that she used to knit products at home for Umang HandKnits, for which she was paid on a per piece basis. In addition to managing her work and household, she has also led her own Self Help Group (SHG) with Umang for years. Back then though, her priorities lay within the house and the idea of making her work a permanent stronghold held little affection of hers.
But the power of saying ‘yes’ got to her eventually. When she finally decided to take up more responsibility at Umang HQ, it was because the lockdown had forced her husband to lose the income of a private job. Kids had grown, the need had increased, and appreciation for her work here was unequivocal. Today, with a stable salary she works further round the clock – to keep her house in order while supporting it too. While her work during office hours is compensated, these extra are paid for only in satisfaction.
Each SHG associated with Umang has a leader. In addition to maintaining the monetary savings culture of the group, this woman is responsible for getting the wool to the knitters, teaching them the required knits and techniques, and getting the final product delivered back in time. Didi is blocking sweaters for a 341-piece order bound for Denmark as she tells me what that’s like. The struggle to teach this particular weave was extreme – it took an entire month for the women of her samuh to master it.
Contrary to what I thought, the problems of the pandemic seem like a minor bump in the road to her. The real crisis is the constant inaccessibility to quality health and education. Where fundamental amenities have always lacked, a pandemic-induced lockdown isn’t even the biggest cause of haphazard. The nearest hospitals to Majkhali are 12 kms away, and teachers are rarely present in school. This is why she is happy with the work she has, but feels helpless about reaping its benefits. Income can be compensated as it’s being, accessibility cannot.
A big cushion against this concrete reality is the sharing of adversity between both genders alike. The men and women around here tend to handle responsibilities equally, didi says, while Umang is bringing in a sense of equity.
A documentation of experiences as encountered under the guided supervision of Mahila Umang Producers Company Ltd. Umang is a collective of self-help groups and producer members providing sustainable livelihood opportunities to thousands of women in the Himalayas. Their work has touched lives not only at the economic level, but also in the depths of women’s spirits.
All images by Ria Gupta
