By Ghulam Zakaria Khan Nutkani | Program officer
Dhapo is a widow. She has seven children (three daughters and four sons). A few years back, her husband died in a tragic accident while digging a well when he fell into it and was buried alive. She is a scheduled caste Hindu who is double marginalized: one for being a general minority and second for being a minority within the minority. She is leading a very difficult life as food insecurity remains a major cause of worry for her.
‘I am very glad to have a shelter (Chora) after my house was destroyed by heavy rainfall in the previous year (2011). I thank ActionAid and SAMI for taking care of my need of shelter. They also provided me food and non- food items in the very early days of flood devastation.” Said Dhapo.
After floods, I got seed support from SAMI and ActionAid, and was able to cultivate the crop. I want my children to study therefore I have to work much more than other fellow women. I weave caps and rilly(local shawl), do small jobs like making an earthen cooking pot and supporting other women in daily household chores.
This is how I provide for my children’s basic needs. I trust my Bhagwan (God) and remain hopeful of the good times ahead. I love to attend the REFLECT center where women discuss their issues, learn how to read and write and speak for women rights but mostly it is an opportunity to spare myself from multiple responsibilities of earning livelihood and running my home.
On recalling flood days, I feel scared of the fact that my children were crying with hunger and I really had nothing to offer them. I still wonder if SAMI and ActionAid had not come to our rescue and support, we could not have survived longer with hunger, homelessness and a chaos.’
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ActionAid is an international anti-poverty agency working in 50 countries, taking sides with poor people to end poverty and injustice together. Together with more than 2,000 civil society partners worldwide, ActionAid works with and supports the poorest and most vulnerable people to fight for and gain their rights to food, shelter, work, basic healthcare and a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. View the website at www.actionaidusa.org.
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