Bhawana Budhathoki Permanent Resident of Rundtigadhi - RM -09, is active as a Women and Human rights workers in social service. Mainly, she is working on gender violence. According to her- she had also faced violence in her home. There was no entertaining environment in my home due to the second marriage of her father-in-law. Usually there used to be disputes at home. Elder spouse (Bhawan's mother-in-law) claimed property, but it could not be considered. Bhawana tackled sorrow even in the management of day-to-day meal and living. At that time, the community could not believe her in advocating against violence since she herself was bearing violence. My community raised the question- Bhawana you are unable to manage your own home, how can you work for awareness raising for others? Bhawana tackled bitter back biting. Bhawana believes that each daughter and daughter-in-law need to be aware in community. Until and unless women could not be empowered, violence in community happens frequently. It does not mean that only violence against women happens but many of them is related with women. In the Runtigadhi- RM of Rolpa district, 18 women human rights workers have been mobilized coordinating with wards to decrease and stop the gender violence. For them, needed training and awareness raising events have been organized. With this, they are in regular phone contact. It has supported in capacity development. GOAL-II projects conduct gender method analysis, dynamic method analysis, sexual violence, misbehave and sorrow related one day workshop. Project also jointly celebrate (children’s day, international, elder citizen day, social service day and 16 days celebration against women violence) as an awareness raising program. So, Bhawana got opportunities to understand legal provision by participating in the programs. After getting information about legal provision, Bhawana registered charge in court for the property claim. After rigorous effort and a long time, she got property as stated in law. Now, my family is living in a healthy environment. She shares this example in other groups during discussion. Social worker Bhawana is active in social service. Along with her regular social service, she participated in the training of psychosocial counsellor. Then, she conducted discussions in Mother's group. The members of the mothers' group are also interested in this training. They are eager to get further knowledge as well.
Discussing with Jaljala Health
Mothers' group, Bhawana led discussion for budget with representative of ward
no. 9. For the training on women
empowerment, ward allocated 50,000 and ward
itself conducted for 3 days. Mothers' group has decided to request for other
skill-based training in the upcoming days. This year, Bhawana has facilitated
13 disputes. As the nature of disputes, she co-ordinates with concerned
organizations, offices. So, the identity of Bhawana has been broader now. In
the territory of Runtigadhi RM, gender caused violence used to happen but that
could not be the heading of discussion. There was no trend of carrying out
those incidents and attempt for justice. Nowadays, each ward representatives
have also realized the need of awareness raising activities and they have
included such programs in their planning. According to Bhawana, there is
harmonious environment in her family, and she has been introduced as a leading
woman in the Community. Community people believe her in social work. Bhawana says
that never start discussion with negative points, share positive achievements
and make your attitude positive. Be polite, use humble words and show your
presence to others. In
the beginning, I had felt that gender violence is difficult areas to advocate
since it was not easy to show the change. In the time being, I realized that we
could do result oriented task co-coordinating with concerned authorities,
organizations, and communities.
Lastly, she is thankful to
GOAL-II project team for their support & guidance for establishing ward level
women activist to minimize gender violence at community level.
