Happy Day of Equality and March greetings from Subadhra in Lalitpur!
Greetings from our project village Ghusel in Nepal. Own income strengthens women's role and status in both their family and community. According to studies, helping women is one of the most effective ways to enhance equality and well-being in a sustainable way. Happy Day of Equality and thank you for coming along with Kaiko.
Subadhra Timalsina is a 45-year-old mother of two grown-up children who lives in the village of Ghusel in the Lalitpur region in Nepal. In addition to Subadhra's husband, also his parents live on the farm. Subadhra's partner works as a teacher in a local school.
The farm located in the mountain village produces, for example, cauliflower, beans, cucumber and mustard. There are three buffaloes that produce around 10–11 litres of milk per day. Subadhra, her in-laws and also her husband when he has spare time from teaching all participate in taking care of the crops and buffaloes.
Subadhra has been married for 30 years and the marriage was arranged, which is still a common practice particularly in the countryside in Nepal. Even though Subadhra did not know her future partner beforehand she tells that her marriage is a happy one.
Subadhra's days are full of work and she often gets up already at five in the morning. The various daily tasks include gathering food for the buffaloes from the forest, feeding the animals and cleaning the barn, working in the field, preparing meals and keeping the house clean. Subadhra does not really have spare time.
Subadhra belongs to the women's group of the Ghusel village cooperative that is supported by Women's Bank and she has received farming training there.
– Before, all income from the farm went to my husband and I had to ask him for money. After I got in the training I have started to run the farm independently. I have learnt a lot of new things about farming and the work has become more professional. I now know a lot more about new, more effective cultivation techniques, Subadhra tells and proudly presents the seed dryer in the yard.
Subadhra takes the farm produce daily by foot to the common collection centre in the village from where it is transported to nearby towns to be sold.
Subadhra is happy with her life at the moment. In the future she hopes that she could get more training and expand the farm.
– I have no complaints in my life right now. I am happy that I have got training and that my knowledge regarding both matters related to cultivation and women's rights has increased. – Belonging to the group means a lot to me, she adds.
Photo: Maria Miklas Text: Tiina Toivakka