Travelogue Karnali: Realistic Experiences

Maheshwor Rijal 

15 April, 2014

My first journey to the mountainous countryside of Karnali was adventurous crossing the worn path, where I had to walk danger to life. And, I immediately realized that my pain was not a pain seeing the real oppression of marginalized and vulnerable women associated with struggle for existence and livelihood. No food, shelter properly, let’s imagine how difficult the life is. This is the real trial and tribulation that voiceless women of Karnali region encountering innocently without any options to escape.

I started my visiting with Project Coordinator from the Kalai cluster, Mugu district, on 29 March 2014 and returned from Shreenagar cluster, Humla district  participating in the monthly meeting and discussed with different agendas like finalization of best practices, Women Advocacy Development Groups (WDAG’s) proposals, matching grant and its process, reporting requirement, achievement of literacy class and  Monitoring and  Evaluation ( M & E) data collection. When I asked to women of our Women Advocacy Development Groups (WDAGs), it is found that their living standards have been changed.  As per the interaction and discussion with women, they explored the situation two years back, and they replied that women are double subjugated within family and in society. The situation was reprehensive as there was no space of synergic stimulation for women to be empowered in this deeply rooted system of patriarchy.  This is the real voices WDAGs during my short ethnographic staying in the community. And, this was because of increasing cases of domestic violence, gender discrimination against women even if male and female are supposed to be the two wheels of a same cart. The life of women was undoubtly under pressure since they have to do every activity like taking care of children, livestock’s, farming works.

It is a progress from the project  I Have a Voice: Women Advocating for Development in Nepal funded by PATC, as living standard of women has been changed, Now, women are able to read, write and operate simple mathematics needed for daily life. Women are able to advocate and fight for their rights.

Despite of having such kinds of heavy work load stripping babies to their back, women are not still paid in comparison with male counterparts. This is the one of the problems, needs to be addressed soon for creating the equitable and inclusive society so far.  When I asked with women of WDAGs regarding the system of Chaupadi, they replied that the system of Chaupadi has been minimized and women started to live inside home rather but not in cattle. The situation of Sothern belts of Humla has been overlooked from the government stakeholder.  I observed that WDAGs members representing Shreenagar, Jaira, and Kalika VDC. This was the impact of the project as the reached in the level of self-empowerment. And, this is proved by their delegation to the district level concerned authority including District Agriculture Office (DADO), District Development Office (DAO), and District Health Office (DHO). And, district level concerned assured the urgent need of establishing Health Camp soon to check diseases regarding the women reproductive organs.

Last but not a least, my reflective understanding symbolizes the fact that we have done significant things for social changes and transformations. It was interesting to see the all women including Dalit, and non-Dalit, women with disability, and single women sit together, and discussed the agendas for social changes and transformation for empowering women.

Living Fully......!!!

Thank you.