Women with a mighty heart!

Om Shree, 36 year old woman subdued her own interests for the sake of her family.Despite the threats and difficulties,she kept on going and now this woman owns two mini trucks.--
Balarpur(Mainpuri, UP)
It is dark as usual , when Om Shree returns from her guava orchard to her home where her siblings would be waiting for her to dine together. Today she has everything to run a family in this small vilage.But things were not like this for her only two decade ago , when she lost her parents and responsibility of all young members came upon her delicate shouders.
She was only 16 years old.She hoped that in such tough time , her uncles and cousins would help her but for her surprise they all were eying to grab the land. They beat har many time and spread ill-rumours about her character in the village. " they wnted me to sign on the property papers without any protest. They forced me to leave the village , so that they could take the hold of my ancestral land", she says.
Things were not easy for her in any way. She had nothing called 'money' at home because everything was gone in the treatment of her father who as suffering from Tuberculosis.Her cousins has criminal records so no one stood against them to help her.
" When they failed in their plans to owerpower me easily as they thought earlier.They started misleading my younger brothers , by saying that one day I would sell all the property and would fled away from home. one of my brother even satrted drinking and gambling in their company. My brothers abused me- their elder sister due to the poision filled in them".she says while tears rolling on her cheeks. " I suffered a lot but the very moment I decided that I would not let them fulfill their wicked-plans. It is tough for girls to stand against such bad men but I had no option left with". she adds further.
However there were many hurdles on her way but her steadfast determination brought her the desired fruit. She used both love and stick to bring her brothers back on the right path. She worked as labourer to feed her siblings. " during day I used to work on my land and at night I went to harvest wheat crops to earn money to meet the family expencs". she tells.
She tried to file comlaint against her cousins but police did not listen to her. Then she decided to transfer the old gun of her father as defence weapon against them (cousins) but problems were tied to her everywhere. "I went Mainpuri umpteen times but in vain. Clerks demnded money for 'chai-pani' which I hadn't and they ." she tells.
But her work was not done yet. She had two sister two sisters to marry. So to marry one of them , she started working overtime and within two years she collected some money.In 1999, she got her sister married to a well-setteled man. The guava orchard planted by her had now started giving plenty in return , so in 2004 she purchased a mini truck with partial loan.
Only in one and and half year she paid the loan and on previous 'Diwali' she purchased another. Her brother Raju said that she had suffered a lot due to them and he would give her all comforts for the rest of life. When asked about her own marriage , she says " If I will marry there is no one to look after them. even today people are behind my property and I can't let them do, no matter for that I have to do some sacrifies."
Om shree is not much worried now because her brothers has grown young and they are looking after the work with her. " we respect her determination to survive in such tough situation , where everything was against her. She is source of inspiration to us and we want to make all our daughters like her." says a group of women of the village.

Candle flickers despite all odds!

Dusashan Behera, several state and national award winner is a victim of fate, NGOs, tradesmen and administration. He is fighting is a losing battle to save dying Dhokra craft. At the age of 68 his zeal to fight is exceptional.
Situlia (Dhenkanal): " Mu je parjanta banchhi, se parjanta kala ku banchi rakhibi" (till live , I will keep this art alive) Dusashan Behera, many state and national awards winner craftsman says in despair.
Situlia popularly known as Dhokra village first came into limelight when the then Chief minister of Orissa, Nandini satpathy sent Behra’s name in Pragati Maidan’s ‘Shilp mela’ to represent the state.
From there, Dushasan was sent to Japan by former PM late smt. Indira Gandhi to represent India and he did so and received first prize among 25 contestants. The whole village was in a festive mood because the poor villagers thought that their fate would also change with the popularity of this art globally.
But the happiness was short-lived. After returning from Japan, he got other awards but not the funds to run the business. The financial state of this Santhal populated village can be understood as soon as one enters the village..
Various NGOs however work for the ‘upliftment’ of this craft but only on papers. "They says Behera " purchase from us in Bulk and sell them on higher rates". " It takes 3 days and 150 rupees including 300 rupees of brass and other raw material. They offer us 300 rupees per kg, how can we sell in total loss." He adds further.
He was betrayed time and again. Once a man from Cuttack, named Nityanand Bhol took two pieces of his excellent work- Konark Chakra and Ashok Stambha with 108 diyas, giving Behra a false assurance of high monetary prize and award from Central Govt.
" Bhol got the prize for the products he never made. He is also getting pension after that" utters Behra. He tried to file a case of cheating against Bhol but advocates denied. He was allegedly attacked by ‘ gundas’ sent by Bhol to withdraw the case he never filed. " We are poor people, can’t afford police cases, so at last I decided to sit mum at home." Red-faced Behra says.
He is fighting a losing battle. Out of 50 homes, 30 left the work because of the lower on income from the craft business. Even his sons, don’t depend on this art, they are labourers. ‘ On a good day in Situlia says Behra nostalgically ‘ people get money to feed them at the end of the daylong tedious work’.
Prime Minister in 2006, to uplift such excellent traditional crafts, sanctioned six crore rupees to Orissa, but where that money has spent is still a detective story. ‘ Out of six crore rupees, we got a handicraft showroom ‘ shilpika’ which is under control of NGOs. They sell our products at higher rates, taking all money and credit themselves. Says Behera.
But this 68-year-old ‘Young man’ has a fire in his eyes to safeguard this art. He wants to open a school to train people in this craft. He left three jobs to train people only to protect this rare art. This skilled craftsman is still hopeful, that in near future he will get aid from government and his dream to train people will come true.
" I will Train without charging any fees." Says an enthusiastic Behera.